Difference between snow and rain.

Snow and rain refer to precipitation from clouds. In each case, their particles have to overcome a considerable distance before touching the earth's surface. But there is also a noticeable difference between these atmospheric phenomena.

Definition

Snow - solid precipitation formed in conditions of negative temperatures. In many parts of the earth, snow is seen as common. But in some climatic zones, namely the equatorial and subequatorial, it is completely absent.

Snow

Rain - precipitation in the form of numerous drops. Nothing more than rain sometimes contributes to the appearance of a rainbow - it looms in the atmosphere when particles of moisture are illuminated by the rays of the sun.

Rain

Comparison

Indeed, the two types of precipitation have much in common. As mentioned, they fall from great heights, as opposed to frost or dew. Both snow and rain are heavy (uniform in their characteristics) and torrential (sudden and unstable in strength). In addition, the substance of which these sediments are composed is water.

But in what form is the water in each case, it is precisely the main difference between snow and rain. Any snowflake is an intergrown solid crystals formed when moisture freezes. A drop is a substance in a liquid state, that is, water that has not frozen or melted.

Let us describe in more detail each type of precipitation. If we talk about snow, then it is white and very airy in the absence of compaction. It can go in the form of small snowflakes, and when they stick together, whole flakes fall from the sky. Sometimes you can see snow pellets, which are white balls that break easily when squeezed between your fingers.

Snow falls on the ground as a soft carpet. But over time, various changes can occur with it. Snow sometimes turns to crust or ice. And if it is relatively warm outside, snow porridge may form, which impedes the movement of people and vehicles. In the frost, the snow crunches underfoot. It is his crystals that rub and break under pressure.

About the rain they say: "it pours like a bucket." Under its influence, everything around gets wet, streams may appear. Precipitation of this type is also different. Everyone watched the mushroom, cheerful, rain falling when the sun was shining with might and main. And sometimes it rains freezing. It is a droplet with a hardened shell. In the fall, the rain is often drizzling.

I must say that snow and rain are able to "be friends" and fall at the same time. This phenomenon is observed when some flying snowflakes melt, covered by warm air at the surface of the earth.

You can also notice the difference between snow and rain by looking at the question from a practical point of view. After all, not only is snow an excellent heat insulator, it is even used to build dwellings - an igloo. All this has nothing to do with rain.

Table

Snow Rain
Frozen moistureWater as liquid
WhiteTransparent
Forms driftsCauses the appearance of streams
Dropped by snowflakes, flakes, grainsSometimes mushroom, ice, drizzling
Good insulation, in the north it is used as a building materialCannot be insulation or building material
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