Lumilämpötila

Lumilämpötila refers to the temperature of snow. It is a crucial factor in understanding snowpack properties, avalanche formation, and snowmelt processes. Snow crystals form in clouds at temperatures below freezing, and their initial temperature at formation influences their shape and subsequent growth. As snow falls and accumulates, it interacts with the ambient air temperature, leading to changes in the snow's thermal state.

The temperature within a snowpack is not uniform. The surface snow is generally closer to the air temperature, while deeper layers can be warmer due to geothermal heat or processes like latent heat release from metamorphism. Understanding the vertical temperature gradient within the snowpack is vital for avalanche forecasting, as significant temperature differences can indicate weak layers or potential for rapid snowpack changes.

Furthermore, snow temperature affects its density and strength. Colder snow tends to be less dense and more fragile, while warmer snow, especially near melting point, can become denser and more cohesive. This has implications for recreational activities like skiing and snowboarding, as well as for engineering structures built on or within snow. Monitoring lumilämpötila is therefore a standard practice in many cold-climate regions for scientific research, hazard assessment, and environmental monitoring.