One of the most beautiful seasons, of course, is winter. Both children and adults are looking forward to it, because frosty snowy weather in winter always cheers up.
Classification of natural phenomena: examples
Climatic anomalies are divided by the nature of origin, impact, duration, scale and regularity. Natural phenomena per se represent any natural meteorological change.
By origin, they are geomorphological, biogeochemical, space and climatic. The latter are considered the most common (rain, typhoon, etc.). And the most beautiful of them are winter natural phenomena (examples: snow, frosty patterns).
Recently, cases of geomorphological phenomena (tsunamis, volcanoes, earthquakes) have become more frequent in Asia and America.
By duration, meteorological anomalies are divided into instant, short and long-term. The first include a
volcanic eruption and an earthquake, the second - flood, rain, barrage, and the third - drying up of the river or climate change. Regarding regularity, according to this criterion, natural phenomena can be seasonal or daily.
The greatest danger to people's lives is represented by spontaneous meteorological phenomena - tornado, typhoon, lightning. These may include winter
phenomena of nature (examples: snow flurry and abnormal frost).
There are quite interesting rare phenomena in the surrounding world. Among them, one can distinguish the moon rainbow, halo effect, star rain, aurora and many others.
What is characterized by winter: examples
This time of year is rightfully considered the most severe period in the northern latitudes. It is worth noting that closer to the equator, winter begins in June-July. This is due to the tropical climate and the polarity of the planet.
One of the first signs of the approaching winter are slight frosts and a short daylight hours. Weather in the winter in the countries of the Northern Hemisphere, especially in Russia and Scandinavia, sometimes strikes with its ruthlessness. For example, in Norway, the air temperature can drop to -45 degrees, and in Siberia it can even drop to -70 degrees. But how beautiful nature is in winter (see photo below)! This is especially true of wild forests and high mountains.
In addition, with the approach of this time of the year, such winter phenomena of nature as low clouds, lack of wind, frost are observed. The most frequent climatic anomalies since mid-December are snow, blizzard, snowdrifts, ice and others.
Winter phenomena: frost
At this time of year in the northern countries is very cold weather. In winter, frosts can reach a threshold of -60 degrees and below. In countries with a temperate climate, weather conditions are more tolerant and milder (up to -20 ).
Frost is considered to be the air temperature, which drops below 0 degrees Celsius. This is the so-called freezing point of liquid (water).
Frost as a natural phenomenon can be divided into categories:
- weak (up to -3 );
- moderate (up to -12 );
- significant (up to -22 ° C);
- fierce (up to -43 ° C);
- extreme (up to -54 ° C);
- abnormal (below -55 ° C).
It is worth noting that frosty weather in a dry climate is much easier to tolerate than in a humid one.
Winter phenomena: snow
Precipitation in frosty weather occurs in the form of crystallized drops of water. During passage through the cold atmosphere, moisture particles freeze, adhere, and fall to the ground. This phenomenon is called snow. It is considered the most frequent in the probability of occurrence in the winter after frost.
It is worth noting that each snowflake does not exceed 5 mm in diameter. Nevertheless, exceptions (up to 30 mm) were repeatedly observed in nature. In shape, snowflakes differ from each other. First of all, this concerns the interweaving of faces. Despite this, they all have perfect symmetry and clear contours. Each snowflake is a hexagon. This format of formation is determined by the shape of the water molecule, which has 6 faces. That is why, as a result, ice crystals, combining and growing in the atmosphere, create an ideal hexagon. Also, the shape of a snowflake is affected by humidity and air temperature. The higher the first indicator and the lower the second, the bigger and fancier the outline will be.
Snowfall in winter plays a very important role. The snowdrift floor keeps heat well, preventing plants and insects from dying in severe frost. Also, snow creates a sufficient supply of moisture so that the flora in the spring can wake up in time.
Winter phenomena: blizzard
This natural phenomenon is the transfer of snow from the surface by a strong wind. At present, there are 3 types of snowstorms: grassroots, common and blowing snow.
Snowstorms (see photo below) raise particles of ice to a certain height from the surface of the earth, as a result of which visibility worsens noticeably. If the vertical layer of the cover is about 2 meters, such a snowstorm is called a bottom. With it, horizontal visibility is almost zero. On the other hand, the sky and clouds are visible well. The wind speed at a lower storm is about 10 m / s.
During a general snowstorm, snow is transported in the surface atmospheric layer. Particles of frozen water move kilometers up. At the same time, horizontal visibility can reach more than 2 meters. There is no way to identify celestial bodies. The wind speed during such a blizzard exceeds 12 m / s.
Blowing snow is a transfer of snow cover up to a meter. At the same time, there is excellent both vertical and horizontal visibility. This phenomenon is most often observed during snowfall. Wind speed varies from 4 to 6 m / s.
Winter phenomena: ice
This natural anomaly is directly related to precipitation. Do not confuse it with sleet. These are two different concepts.
Glaze is a cover of frozen water (when snow melts or after rain). Appears only with a noticeable decrease in temperature. Formed even at 0 degrees.
Ice is the formation of an ice crust on trees, land, wires, which is associated with precipitation on a frozen surface. This phenomenon occurs most often during a sharp warming in the upper atmosphere.
Ice is considered one of the most dangerous meteorological phenomena on earth, since it is associated with severe injuries and car accidents. Nevertheless, such winter natural phenomena for children are especially interesting and long-awaited, because you can freely skate and sled on the ice, like a skating rink.
The accumulation of ice occurs in a matter of hours. But its destruction is extremely slow. Most often, this process is delayed for several days.
Winter events: freezing
This process occurs only in water bodies. Its duration varies depending on the landscape area and air temperature. Freeze-up is the formation of a frozen layer of water. The cover begins to form when the temperature in the river (lake) drops to zero degrees. It is worth noting that in shallow water it forms much faster. The optimal conditions for the formation of the ice layer are low air temperature and the absence of wind. In a blizzard, a cover forms only off the coast.
Such winter phenomena of nature are very dangerous for humans. At any time, the cover can crack, especially the probability of tragedy during the ice drift. This process occurs on rivers with a fast current. Water begins to erode the ice and carry away its fragments further from the coast. Gradually frozen fragments build up due to a collision and form thick hummocks.
Winter phenomena: frosty patterns
Often with minus air temperature, strange patterns form on the windows, as if painted with white paint. The structure of these formations is always tree-like. In meteorology, they are often called dendrites.
Frosty patterns appear on the glass in the form of frozen water molecules when the outside temperature drops below 2 degrees. This is a kind of layer of loose, opaque ice. It should be noted that microcracks and scratches on the glass play an important role in the formation of patterns.
Dendritic crystallization always starts at the bottom of the window, since gravity acts on water molecules. Scientists have proven that with relative humidity and a sharp temperature drop from plus to minus, such patterns can cover 1 square meter of glass in just a couple of hours.
Winter phenomena: snowdrifts and icicles
Significant precipitation at sub-zero temperatures always entails large snow cover. In most cases, snowdrifts form as a result of a prolonged snowstorm. Deposits arise on any obstacles - be it a wall, a fence or a small stump. Snowdrifts resemble sand dunes, but are much looser and more magnificent. Obstacles form on the leeward side .
An icicle is a piece of ice that hangs from an object (roof, branches, wires). Usually it has a cone shape. Formed during melting snow or water runoff. Drops quickly freeze under the influence of low air temperature, forming the final shape of the icicle.
Such winter phenomena of nature are extremely dangerous for people with the onset of positive air temperature. Icicles can also fall down due to their own gravity. In addition, due to thick ice formations, wires often break and tree branches break.
Rare winter natural phenomena
One of the most amazing climatic anomalies associated with this time of the year is considered to be a snow storm. This phenomenon happens every 10 years. Snow thunderstorms occur due to a sharp increase in daytime air temperature. Quickly moving deep cyclones drive moist, electrified air, which descends onto cold earth in large masses with peals of thunder and lightning.
Another rare occurrence is the snow rainbow. This anomaly makes one wonder once again how unpredictable and wonderful nature can be in winter (see photo below).
A rainbow occurs due to the refraction of the sun's rays on ice crystals that are stuck in the air. For this, 4 conditions are necessary: high humidity,
severe frost, bright sun, lack of wind.
A very rare but extremely dangerous winter phenomenon is a snow flurry. Although in recent years, with climate change on the planet, this anomaly occurs more often. A flurry refers to a strong blizzard with a wind speed of more than 60 km / h. Such a storm is always marked by loss of life and serious destruction.