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Why does snow smell?

Phaycops

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It just snowed here again (yes, in April, you get used to it), and I was wondering as I trudged to class what causes the distinct snow smell. My guess is it has something to do with sublimation, because you can't smell the snow on a very very cold day, IIRC. But I may be remembering the hits ;) What do you guys think?
 
I haven't noticed snow smells, and there's a lot of snow here. What kind of smell is it?

This is right outside where I live.
 
arcticpenguin said:
I think its because you're downwind from Toronto.
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No, it's Cleveland. He's at the end of the plume from Cleveland and Gary :D
 
Phaycops said:
It just snowed here again (yes, in April, you get used to it)
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Hey, you chose to go to school in Syracuse... :)

If the snow came from water evaporating off of Onondaga Lake, then I think you have your explaination right there!

I've never noticed a smell to snow. If there was a small associated with it, I'd assume it's either the ground you smell, or it's particles of various things that have latched on to the snowflakes as they fall.

Speaking of which, I was a little upset it snowed in April.
 
Re: Re: Why does snow smell?

dwb said:
Hey, you chose to go to school in Syracuse... :)

If the snow came from water evaporating off of Onondaga Lake, then I think you have your explaination right there!

I've never noticed a smell to snow. If there was a small associated with it, I'd assume it's either the ground you smell, or it's particles of various things that have latched on to the snowflakes as they fall.

Speaking of which, I was a little upset it snowed in April.
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Most of the contamination in Onondaga lake is actually at the bottom or in the sediments, IIRC (it's been a while since I've had any limnology). In any event, the smell of snow is that sharp, kind of snowy smell you get. I can't describe it, but I've read many descriptions of it in literature. Stupid words.
 
If I'm not confusing this with something else, I believe both the smells of snow and rain are due in part to a total lack of smells: the precipitation takes any odors out of the air, and onto the ground.

Thus, you're smelling extremely 'pure' air.

Then again, it might have to do with negative ions in the air after precipitation.
 
bignickel said:
If I'm not confusing this with something else, I believe both the smells of snow and rain are due in part to a total lack of smells: the precipitation takes any odors out of the air, and onto the ground.

Thus, you're smelling extremely 'pure' air.

Then again, it might have to do with negative ions in the air after precipitation.
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Hmm.
Your ability to smell what's in the air anyhow varies substantially with humidity level. That may be part of it, if you're close to saturated air.
 
Does it have a smell unlike rain?

In the climate I live in (wet and very green) you always know it's going to rain before it does, because the air starts to smell like the forest.
 
In the climate I live in (wet and very green) you always know it's going to rain before it does, because the air starts to smell like the forest.
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Yes i think a good explanation is a rise in the humidity. In my country we use to say "It is spring when you can smell that it has rained" but this demands a temperature above freezing.
 
Ove said:


Yes i think a good explanation is a rise in the humidity. In my country we use to say "It is spring when you can smell that it has rained" but this demands a temperature above freezing.
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That's part of it. Low pressure, and higher relative humdity allow dust to get kicked up and stay up.
 
Hmmm. I have to agree with Ove and other posters: I have never, ever "smelled" snow. I have experienced snow many, many times, but I have never noticed that the presence of snow resulted in a particular smell. Or an enhancement of some other smell. The term "smell" has absolutely no resonance with the term "snow" in my brain. Sorry.

It must be something local, Phaycops.
 
Late in the season the snow may smell because of Spring growth and molds. To me late season snow smells like 'old' ice.
 
I can't believe that the smell of snow is endemic to Syracuse.

It does sometimes smell like "old ice," like your freezer if you haven't cleaned it lately. Other times it smells like a very clean freezer. Other times it doesn't smell like anything.

I also can't believe I'm the only one who's ever read descriptions of the smell of snow in literature.
 
Maybe it has to do with the type of climate. This area is filled with vast evergreen forests. It's growing all the time. So, snow doesn't mean life hibernates.

Perhaps in some places, snow DOES equate to death. When it snows, everything is already dead, so there is nothing to kick up to smell. Or, perhaps the ground freezes before it snows in the first place.
 
Snow in a bottle

At least some people think snow has a smell. There's a company here in NYC called Demeter which makes offbeat perfumes, bath salts, lotion, bubble bath, etc. Their "fragrance library" includes one called "snow," along with "shortbread," "steam room," "waffle," "funeral home," "angel food," "dirt," "martini," and one of my favorites, "thunderstorm." The New York store is closed for relocating right now, I think, but when it reopens I highly recommend a visit. They have samples of every scent out for you to experiment with.

You can see the whole list of scents here:

http://www.fp1.com/shopping/demeter/scents.html

They definitely have some scents where before smelling them you think, "Pruning shears don't have a smell," but afterwards you think, "Yes, that's what pruning shears smell like." Maybe snow is like that, too.
 
bignickel said:
If I'm not confusing this with something else, I believe both the smells of snow and rain are due in part to a total lack of smells: the precipitation takes any odors out of the air, and onto the ground.

Thus, you're smelling extremely 'pure' air.

Then again, it might have to do with negative ions in the air after precipitation.
Click to expand...

Or you could be smelling the impurities as they are being forced to the ground by the precipitation.
 
bignickel said:
If I'm not confusing this with something else, I believe both the smells of snow and rain are due in part to a total lack of smells: the precipitation takes any odors out of the air, and onto the ground.

Thus, you're smelling extremely 'pure' air.

Then again, it might have to do with negative ions in the air after precipitation.
Click to expand...

Or you could be smelling the impurities as they are being forced to the ground by the precipitation.
 
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