Why is it quieter after a snowstorm?
Just like insulation that reduces sound in your home, snowflakes do the same and capture the sound outdoors.
The sound of silence: Why it's quieter after a snowstorm
Have you ever noticed it gets quieter after a snowstorm? The silence after a snowstorm isn’t something that you’re imagining. Science shows that it’s quieter after a snowstorm.
Have you ever noticed after snow falls during a snowstorm in winter that it’s much quieter?
Maybe it’s the lack of people headed out to travel on snow-covered roads or the calm as you watch the snowflakes peacefully fall.
Dendrite means "tree-like", which describes the multi-branched appearance of these snow crystals. Stellar dendrites have six symmetrical main branches and a large number of randomly placed sidebranches, according to NASA.
(Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images / Getty Images)
But the silence after a snowstorm isn’t something you’re imagining – science shows that it is indeed quieter after snow falls during winter weather.
Just like insulation that reduces sound in your home, snowflakes do the same and capture the sound outdoors.
WHAT MAKES SOME SNOWFLAKES SO LARGE?
What makes some snowflakes so large?
How do snowflakes get so jumbo-sized? It's literally a sticky situation.
Right after the snow falls is when it’s quietest, especially if you’ve experienced light and fluffy snowfall.
The light and fluffy snowflakes, or dendrites, are large ice crystals with branches and side branches. The open area between these areas serves as more area to capture sound waves.
According to a study from the University of Kentucky, a couple of inches of snow can absorb approximately 60% of sound.
Winter Storm HQ Minute - Snow Squalls
FOX Weather meteorologist Britta Merwin breaks down snow squalls and what causes them to dump heavy snow.
Once the snow has had a chance to compact or melt, the opposite happens. The ice reflects sound waves rather than absorbing them. All of those tiny open spaces within those snowflakes are gone, and it ends up being louder due to the reflection.
So, the next time you experience a snowstorm, head outside to enjoy nature and experience the brief serenity of the freshly fallen snow before grabbing the shovel and trying to figure out the easiest way to shovel snow.