On this date in 1979
Snow fell in Sahara Desert for
the only time in recorded history. Here are 10 things you might not know about snow:
- The world's largest snowflake recorded fell at Fort Keogh, Montana on January 28, 1887. It was reportedly 38 cm wide and 20 cm thick.
- The average snowflake is made up of 180 billion Water molecules and has a top speed of 1.7 metres per second (3mph).
- Snowflakes are always hexagonal but the majority are not perfectly symmetrical - uneven temperatures, dirt and other factors usually cause them to be lopsided. Is every one different? Personally, I don't see how anyone can know, since nobody has looked at all of them. Scientists in Japan have been casting doubt on this generally accepted fact, though. While they say it's highly likely that the more complex ones actually are unique, they have classified 35 basic types of snowflake, and some of the less complex ones actually do appear to look the same. For would-be snowflake nerds there is an infographic here: http://www.compoundchem.com/2014/12/10/snowflakes/
- A single snowstorm can drop 40 million tons of snow, carrying the energy equivalent to 120 atom bombs.
- Chionophobia is a fear of snow.
- The world's largest snowman was actually a snow woman. She was made in Bethel, Maine in 2008 and measured 122 ft. She had 30 ft spruce trees for arms and skis for eyelashes.
- Snow is colourless. It only appears white because of the light reflected off it. Deep snow can sometimes appear to be blue because layers of snow create filters which absorb more red light.
- It is a popular urban legend that the Inuit or Eskimos have an unusually large number of words for snow. In reality, the Eskimo-Aleut languages have about the same number of distinct word roots referring to snow as English does. It's quite possible that skiers and snowboarders have more words for snow than Eskimos do!
- A snowstorm can only be described as a blizzard if the wind speed is 35 miles an hour or more, visibility is less than a quarter of a mile, and the storm lasts for more than three hours.
- Ten inches of snow becomes just 1 inch of water when it melts.
My Christmas Novella!
A Very Variant Christmas
Last year, Jade and Gloria were embroiled in a bitter conflict to win back their throne and their ancestral home. This year, Queen Jade and Princess Gloria want to host the biggest and best Christmas party ever in their palace. They invite all their friends to come and bring guests. Not even the birth of Jade's heir just before Christmas will stop them.
The guest list includes most of Britain's complement of super-powered crime-fighters, their families and friends. What could possibly go wrong?
Gatecrashers, unexpected arrivals, exploding Christmas crackers and a kidnapping, for starters.
Far away in space, the Constellations, a cosmic peacekeeping force, have suffered a tragic loss. They need to recruit a new member to replace their dead colleague. The two top candidates are both at Jade and Gloria's party. The arrival of the recruitment delegation on Christmas Eve is a surprise for everyone; but their visit means one guest now faces a life-changing decision.
Meanwhile, an alliance of the enemies of various guests at the party has infiltrated the palace; they hide in the dungeon, plotting how best to get rid of the crime-fighters and the royal family once and for all. Problem is, they all have their own agendas and differences of opinion on how to achieve their aims.
Not to mention that this year, the ghosts who walk the corridors of the palace on Christmas Eve will be as surprised by the living as the living are by them.
Available from Createspace, Amazon and Amazon Kindle
Not to mention that this year, the ghosts who walk the corridors of the palace on Christmas Eve will be as surprised by the living as the living are by them.
Available from Createspace, Amazon and Amazon Kindle
My novel, Death and Faxes is available: why not treat yourself?
Or get the E-book: Amazon Kindle Where you can use the "Look Inside" function and read the first few pages for free! And it's less than £2 to buy for your Kindle!
Don't want to risk it without reading a review? Visit Comfy Chair.
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