Why it goes quiet when it's snowing

David Herrin, a specialist in acoustics at the University of Kentucky recently made a statement that snow has a calming impact on the environment by absorbing external sounds. "Snow is a very good absorber of sound," said Herrin. The acoustic experts using a scale from 0 to 1 to evaluate the sound absorbing properties of any substance, ranging from the foam used to soundproof the car, to the materials used in ventilation systems.

"In hearing range, only a couple of inches (5 cm) of snow absorb on average approximately 0.6 or 60 percent," said Herrin. "Snow is porous, and in some respects, it is comparable to the commercial sound absorbing foam".

The snow absorbs the sound, not just falling from the sky, but even being already in the snowdrifts. In addition, the snowflakes do not produce sound upon contact with the ground. "Raindrops, by contrast, are falling at a higher speed and hit the sidewalk. You hear the sound of a blow," says Herrin. "The force of the impact of snow is much less, partly due to reduced speed". Of course, if the snow on the ground melts and then freezes - it completely changes its acoustic properties. Frozen slush and ice really reflect the sound waves that can make the sound more clear and to facilitate its transmission over longer distances.

A walk in the snow has its own unique sound, caused by the collapse of tiny ice granules and compressed snow. You may have noticed that the low temperatures lead to more Kishimoto crunch of snow underfoot. This is because a lower temperature is causing increased friction between the snow and ice pellets. "You hear the sound of the impact of the soles of your shoes on snow," said Herrin. "And you will hear the ice crackle or crunch of snow when it is compacted".

The translation is made on materials redOrbit specifically for the Planet Today

Translated by «Yandex.Translator»