User:Mpletch1/sandbox

Snow sports

For skiers and snowboarders, snowflake type determines snow conditions that are easiest for maneuverability. Light and fluffy snow known as “powder” is a favorite among snow sports enthusiasts due to the feeling of floating through snow. Powder snow conditions occur when stellar dendrite snowflakes are the primary snowflake type that has fallen. Stellar dendrites are thin and light, which causes a low-density snowpack that allows for easy maneuvering for skiers and snowboarders. This type of snow primarily occurs between -16 and -12 °C (3.2 – 10.4 °F) when coupled with a low moisture content air mass. Additionally, vapor deposition in mixed-phase clouds is crucial for development of stellar dendrites. Dendritic growth occurs most frequently when the surrounding vapor pressure is lower than water saturation, causing ice crystal growth at the expense of supercooled water droplets.

Ideal conditions for skiing and snowboarding also depend on how snow is layered. A right-side up snowfall, or when powdery snow sits on top of heavy, wet snow, allows for great skiing and snowboarding conditions. In the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, right-side up snowstorms are more common than in other areas due to a high correlation between snow water content and temperature. Graupel, which has a high water content, can serve as the heavy portion of the right-side up snowfall beneath powdery snow. When graupel is the primary snowflake type during a winter storm, it can provide a smooth, effortless skiing and snowboarding experience as graupel does not stick together well due to riming. As riming occurs, snowflakes become more rounded as the individual branches of the snowflake are filled in, increasing snowpack density. Conversely, when high-moisture, dense snow falls on low-moisture, powdery snow, upside-down snowfall occurs. Upside-side down snowfall results in difficult turning conditions and increases the likelihood of avalanches occurring.