Snow Rollers
They are called snow rollers and they look like something out of a Stephen King travel guide to the Arctic Circle - weird, cylindrical snow formations created in the middle of nowhere without the benefit of human touch.
The “strange phenomena,” are created under very specific conditions: The ground surface must have an icy, crusty snow, on which falling snow cannot stick. About an inch or so of loose, wet snow must accumulate. Gusty and strong winds are needed to scoop out chunks of snow.
Once the “seed” of the snow roller is formed, it begins to roll, pushed by the wind, unimpeded.
It collects additional snow from the ground as it rolls along, leaving trails behind it.
Watch video:
http://www.weather.com/video/snow-rollers-39071
Reference:
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/otx/photo_gallery/snow_rollers.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_roller
Images via Wikimedia Commons
nature's way of saying, "i'm beautiful."
ReplyDeleteAnd round..like a donut, come take a bite =))
ReplyDeleteokay, now i'm hungry.again.for bazillionth time. Corina Marinescu
ReplyDeleteNatural fenomena can be so beautiful. Thanks Corina Marinescu for showing us this!
ReplyDeleteWelcome Christopher Peirs ;)
ReplyDeleteWow
ReplyDeletesome "moving stones" in sand deserts leave such tracks, - but do not accumulate sand, of course.
ReplyDeleteCori - you are magic - you can find snow ... presented in text and photos - rare phenomenon ... scientific view ... greetings to NYC - best regards volker from big snow Zermatt / Alps
ReplyDeleteStrange - I have seen lots of similar discs while cross-country skiing in the Alps in thawing conditions, but never with a hole in the middle... I'll call them lesser rollers now !
ReplyDeleteEh..I need a snowboard trip ;)
ReplyDeleteThese arctic doughnut's could look like a danish pastry from a different angle (if you can't see the hole in the middle). Serious brain freeze if you eat one
ReplyDeleteI thought I was a expert on snow. Newer seen hole in the middle like this. Great :-)
ReplyDeleteMaybe... Hurol Aslan ;)
ReplyDeleteMaybe there is a 'soft serve' ice cream phenomena as well
ReplyDeleteThey look like Nature acting out the myth of Sysiphus.
ReplyDeleteInteresting comparison Sean Walker ..only that snow melts ;)
ReplyDeleteVanilla ice cream phenomena? Sam Collett
ReplyDeleteExactly. You could make a 'snow cone' for it
ReplyDeletewe snowboard trips here ... Zermatt / 2 meters of snow - all slopes in excellent condition ... vg
ReplyDeleteThat is so cool. :)
ReplyDeletepardon the pun