Ground blizzard

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/ground-blizzard

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the distinguishing factor?Occurs without new precipitation; differentiates it from a conventional blizzard
2. What is the primary causative agent?Sustained high wind speeds exceeding the threshold for snow particle suspension
3. Why can a ground blizzard happen after a snowstorm?After a snowstorm the snow on the ground can be loose, and if the wind is strong enough it can lift that snow, creating a whiteout even though the sky is clear.
4. How does wind make snow move in a ground blizzard?Wind pushes against the snow, and if the force is stronger than the snow's weight and the bonds that hold it together, the snow lifts into the air and is carried by the wind.

Ground Blizzard: A weather phenomenon where strong winds transport existing snow, causing blizzard conditions without new snowfall.
Visibility: The measure of the distance at which an object can be seen; critically impaired during ground blizzards.
Shear Stress: The force exerted by wind on the snow surface, necessary to lift and move snow particles.