Ukrainian polar explorers from the Antarctic station “Akademik Vernadsky” showed a rare phenomenon – scrolls of snow, which are also called snow rolls or “donuts”.
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The corresponding photos today, January 27, were published on the Facebook page of the National Antarctic Science Center.
These are multi-layer bundles of snow, which usually have a void inside. They can be very small – from a few centimeters in diameter, or quite noticeable – more than a meter in diameter, resembling hay bales in a field, the message states.
It is noted that the formation of such snow scrolls requires a number of weather conditions:
- two different layers of snow. The bottom one is frozen or covered with an ice crust, it will be like a lining. The top one is fresh, loose and wet. It should cover the bottom one, but not stick to it;
- air temperature is close to the ice melting point (i.e. slightly above 0°C);
- the wind force should be such as to move lumps of snow, but not destroy them;
- also, for the formation of rolls, a slope is mostly needed – then they roll up more easily.
The need for the coincidence of all these rather specific conditions is precisely what makes snow scrolls a unique phenomenon that you rarely see, notes the NASC.
The snow inside such a bundle is fresh and has a low density, so it easily erodes, leaving a hole (sometimes it is formed immediately when wrapping the snow blanket).
Ukrainian polar explorers decommunized the Akademik Vernadsky station (PHOTO)
Source: Racurs
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