What Is the “Snow Eater” Wind That Melts Snow in Hours?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. What is the “snow eater” wind that melts snow in hours?

The Big Idea

The snow eater wind is called a chinook, and it melts snow in hours! A chinook is a warm, dry wind that blows down the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains. The word chinook means snow eater.

Wind Sinks

Step one: wind sinks. A chinook blows down the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains. The air sinks from high ground to low ground, losing its moisture on the way. By the time it arrives, it is very dry.

Squeezed and Heated

Step two: squeezed and heated. As the air sinks down the slope, it gets squeezed and heats up. Squeezing air always warms it up, because its tiny molecules get crowded and move faster. Rising air does the opposite and cools.

Snow Melts Fast

Step three: a sudden thaw. A chinook can raise the temperature by 20 degrees Celsius, about 36 degrees Fahrenheit, in just a few hours. It can melt a snowbank very fast. Dry air also helps snow turn to vapor.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! It starts high up in the Rocky Mountains. The air sinks down the eastern slope. Squeezing makes the air warmer and drier. And the warm wind melts the snow quickly.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Chinooks happen often around Calgary, Alberta. Winter can feel like spring for a few hours or days. The warm, dry wind makes snow disappear, even without rain. People there look for the chinook arch, a long band of cloud in the sky.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, pump a bicycle tire. Feel the pump get warm. Squeezing air makes it hotter. That is just like a chinook!

Outro

A chinook is a warm wind that squeezes and heats as it sinks. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!