Preserving Snow from January to June: The Science & Tactics

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the preservation of snow from January until June, exploring the physical processes involved and potential methods to maintain its fluffy texture. Participants consider the challenges of keeping snow in a freezer and the effects of temperature and moisture on its state.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes their attempt to preserve snow in a freezer, noting that it turned to ice after a few months, and questions the physical processes involved.
  • Another participant suggests that the issue may stem from the freezer's defrosting cycles, which could cause the snow to melt slightly and then refreeze into a solid mass.
  • A different viewpoint highlights that even if the freezer remains at or below 0°C, sublimation and condensation could occur, leading to the formation of solid ice rather than fluffy snowflakes.
  • A humorous suggestion is made to use a blender to create a snowball when needed.
  • A reference is made to a comic involving a character who faced a similar situation, providing a cultural context to the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various hypotheses regarding the preservation of snow, with no consensus reached on the best method or the primary cause of the transformation from snow to ice.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include assumptions about freezer performance, the impact of humidity and temperature fluctuations, and the nature of ice crystal formation during sublimation.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those exploring the physical properties of snow and ice, as well as individuals looking for creative ways to preserve snow for recreational purposes.

Wrongfellow
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When the last snow fell I picked some up and put it in the freezer,
sealed in a plastic bag to keep moisture out. I hoped I'd be able to
get it out in the summer and throw a snowball at someone on the
hottest day of the year.

It didn't work. After a few months in the freezer the snow turned to
ice, and throwing a lump of ice at somebody isn't funny.

Basically I'd like to be able to preserve a handful of snow from
January until June, and be able to get it out again in the same fluffy
condition it was in when I picked it up. How can I achieve this?

What physical processes are responsible for turning the snow to ice?
I thought I'd protected it against moisture from the air, by sealing
the snow in a plastic "zip lock" bag. Maybe my freezer isn't cold
enough? How cold does it need to be?
 
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The problem most likely arises from your freezer going through defrosting cycles. It gets just warm enough for the snow to melt slightly but not enough for things kept in the freezer to thaw. Then when the freezer goes back into normal mode, the slightly wet snow refreezes into a solid mass.
 
There's a potential problem even if the freezer doesn't ever get above 0°C. Equilibrium between the frozen snow and the water vapor in the bag means that ice will continually sublimate and condense while the snowball sits in the freezer. And there's no guarantee that the new ice crystals will form as light, fluffy snowflakes. In fact, it seems more likely that they'll deposit layers of solid ice.
 
Put it in a blender when you want to toss it at someone.