Snow Science Explored: Snowflakes, Snowpack, and Climate with Jessica Lundqvist

In this episode, Vox explores the science of snow in a post-storm New York City with Jessica Lundqvist, a civil and environmental engineering professor. The conversation covers how snowflakes form, what happens as snow becomes a ground matrix, how snowpack stores water through the snow water equivalent, and why climate change is shifting precipitation from snow to rain. The episode blends on-the-ground interviews, field measurements, and accessible explanations of why snow matters for ecosystems and water resources, with engaging anecdotes from the field.

Introduction: A Snow Day, A Scientific Quest

After a heavy snowstorm in New York, Vox heads outside to talk with people about snow and to connect with the scientist who studies it, Jessica Lundqvist, a professor of civil and environmental engineering. The episode weaves the everyday texture of a snow-filled city with deep questions about how snow forms, how it behaves on the ground, and why it matters for water resources and ecosystems.

How Snowflakes Form: The Atmosphere's Signature

"Snowflakes will form around a tiny speck of dust called a condensation nuclei." - Jessica Lundqvist

Jessica explains that snow crystals begin around microscopic nuclei and then grow in ways governed by ambient temperature and water vapor. Depending on conditions, a snowflake can develop as a dendrite, a column, or other shapes, effectively recording the path it took through the cloud. The host emphasizes the wonder of this natural history, while the scientist points listeners to examples of designer snowflakes produced in labs for research and education.

From Cloud to Ground: The Snow Matrix and Crunch

"Your snowflakes start accumulating on the ground, and you have all these, you know, little individual snowflakes that fall on top of each other, and they have air in between it." - Vox

The discussion shifts to how snow accumulates on surfaces and forms a matrix of attached crystals. This network creates bridges that can be broken when you step on it or crunch it, generating the characteristic sound. The phenomenon is tied to sintering, surface melting, and the way snow can attach to itself and to objects on the ground, with subtle variations depending on temperature and surface conditions.

Sound, Insulation, and the Snowy Environment

"Snow insulates things really well, just like in your house." - Jessica Lundqvist

Vox asks about why snow can muffle sound and how newly fallen snow differs from older, more compact layers. Jessica explains that fresh snow has numerous air pockets that absorb sound, while older snow can form a connected network that reflects rather than absorbs sound. The environmental benefits of snow as an insulating blanket for plants, microbes, and animals are highlighted, underscoring snow’s critical role beyond aesthetics.

Measuring Snow: Snow Pillow, SWE, and Weather Forecasts

Jessica walks through measurement challenges in snow science, including the snow pillow instrument used to estimate snow water equivalent (SWE), which answers the question of how much water would be released if the snowpack melts. The conversation covers the practical difficulties of measuring snow in rugged mountain terrain, the role of satellites, and the value of long-term patterns in predicting water availability. Climate change adds another layer of uncertainty by shifting precipitation from snow to rain, which reduces predictability for rivers and agricultural planning.

Jessica Lundqvist: A Path from Yosemite to Snow Research

The episode traces Jessica’s journey from growing up in California with a love of the mountains to becoming a researcher who quantifies snow in the Western U.S. water system. The west’s reliance on snowmelt for irrigation and urban water makes accurate snow measurements essential, and Jessica’s work translates into better forecasts and planning for farmers and communities alike.

Conclusion: The Snowier World and Its Lessons

The episode closes with reflections on the unpredictability of snow and climate, encouraging curiosity about natural processes and inviting listeners to share videos and questions, including intriguing natural phenomena like ptarmigan eruptions from snow, which sit at the edge of field observations meeting scientific inquiry.