This article is about making snow artificially from water. For simulated snow products, see Fake snow. For artificial snow made from hydrated artificial polymer, see Superabsorbent polymer.
Snowmaking is the production of snow by forcing water and pressurized air through a "snow gun", also known as a "snow cannon". Snowmaking is mainly used at ski resorts to supplement natural snow. This allows ski resorts to improve the reliability of their snow cover and to extend their ski seasons from late autumn to early spring. Indoor ski slopes use snowmaking. They can generally do so year-round as they have climate-controlled environments.
The use of snowmaking machines has become more common as changing weather patterns and the popularity of indoor ski resorts create a demand for snow beyond that which is provided by nature. Snowmaking machines have addressed the shortage in the supply of snow; however, there are significant environmental costs associated with the artificial production of snow.
According to the European Environment Agency, the length of snow seasons in the northern hemisphere has decreased by five days each decade since the 1970s, thus increasing the demand for the production of artificial snow. Some ski resorts use artificial snow to extend their ski seasons and augment natural snowfall; however, there are some resorts that rely almost entirely upon artificial snow production.[1] Artificial snow was used extensively at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang and the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing to supplement natural snowfall and provide the best possible conditions for competition.[2]
The production of snow requires low temperatures. The threshold temperature for snowmaking increases as humidity decreases. Wet-bulb temperature is used as a metric since it takes air temperature and relative humidity into account. The bulb temperature is always below the outside temperature. The damper the air, the less moisture it can absorb. The higher the atmospheric humidity, the colder it must be to turn the small water droplets into snow crystals.
Examples:
0 °C (32 °F) dry temperature and a humidity of 90% are equal to a wet-bulb temperature of −0.6 °C (30.9 °F)
0 °C (32 °F) dry temperature and a humidity of 30% are equal to a wet-bulb temperature of −4.3 °C (24.3 °F)
+2.0 °C (35.6 °F) dry temperature and a humidity of 90% are equal to a wet-bulb temperature of +1.5 °C (34.7 °F)
+2.0 °C (35.6 °F) dry temperature and a humidity of 30% are equal to a wet-bulb temperature of −2.8 °C (27.0 °F)
To start a snowmaking system a wet-bulb temperature of −2.5 °C (27.5 °F) is required. If the atmospheric humidity is very low, this level can be reached at temperatures slightly above 0 °C (32 °F), but if the air humidity is high, colder temperatures are required. Temperatures around freezing point are referred to as borderline temperatures or limit temperatures.[3] If the wet-bulb temperature drops, more snow can be produced faster and more efficiently.
Snowmaking is an energy-intense process, and has environmental impacts, both of which inherently limit its use.
^"Snow-making companies in a warming world". The Economist. Retrieved 2018-03-04.
^"Fake snow dominates the Winter Olympics". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2018-03-06.
^"Frequently asked questions about TechnoAlpin and artificial snow". www.technoalpin.com. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
Snowmaking is the production of snow by forcing water and pressurized air through a "snow gun", also known as a "snow cannon". Snowmaking is mainly used...
need to receive sufficient snow (at least in combination with artificial snowmaking, unless the resort uses dry ski slopes). High concentrations of ski resorts...
transportation. Snowmaking began on Mount Buller in the 1970s with a pilot system on Enzian Ski Run, which was later moved to Bourke Street. The main snowmaking infrastructure...
drop, and 240 acres (97 ha) of skiable terrain, partially covered by snowmaking. In 2014, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area (owned by Starwood Capital Group at...
abilities. Most of the trails at Easton Ski Area are covered with snowmaking. The snowmaking fleet includes many fan guns. Eaglebrook School - Official site...
However, Australia's notoriously fickle snow conditions ensure that snowmaking using the water from the nearby Rocky Valley Lake is sometimes, particularly...
Ski FIS Races since 2014. Tiffindell uses snowmaking and grooming machines to maintain the ski areas. Snowmaking currently covers in excess of 1,000 metres...
extensive snowmaking system consisting of both compressed air/water gun type and large water/fan units. Over 80% of the resort has permanent snowmaking equipment...
30% advanced. Average annual snowfall is 3.67 metres. In 2007 automated snowmaking was installed and a new snow groomer has also been acquired. There's also...
installed seven new lifts, increased snowmaking by 300%, and built a sixty-three million gallon reservoir for snowmaking. During this period, Mount Ellen...
watch to see who will open first. Below are the opening dates during the Snowmaking Era.[citation needed] Season Open Date (Day of Week) 2003-2004 October...
the lifts as late as the 4th of July. The introduction of artificial snowmaking with snow guns in the late 1950s revolutionized the ski industry, drastically...
Snowmaking usually begins in early December and depending on weather conditions usually ends in early February. The hill has an arsenal of snowmaking...
make snow on all of its trails. The snowmaking system is composed almost exclusively of fan guns. The snowmaking fleet is dominated by SMI Polecats and...
trails accessible from every lift. In the 1960s, Killington installed snowmaking equipment, which had been invented in the 1950s, but was considered a...
community if the mountain closed. With a new strategy to finally invest in snowmaking, a chairlift, and marketing, June Mountain re-opened for the 2013–2014...
for night skiing and is 100% covered by snowmaking. All of Appalachian's slopes are covered with snowmaking. Appalachian's ski area management has a...
solar-powered snowmaking technique was implemented. The resort's snowmaking team developed a solar-panel to float in the largest snowmaking pond as a way...
Ice-nucleating proteins derived from ice-nucleating bacteria are used for snowmaking. A symbiotic relationship between sulphate reducing, lead reducing, sulphur...
installed on the ridge above the glacier to trap snow. In 2015, four snowmaking machines ("snowguns") began adding more snow to the glacier during the...
single ski pass. About 1,160 kilometers of slopes (97%) are covered by snowmaking and skiability is guaranteed from December to April even without snowfall...
chair, 1 double chair. Terrain parks no Snowfall 300 in. avg. annually Snowmaking no Night skiing occasional weekends Website http://www.mtbohemia.com/...
resorts are relying on snowmaking, the production of snow by forcing water and pressurized air through a snow gun on ski slopes. Snowmaking is mainly used to...
Typical of North Carolina ski areas, Cataloochee relies primarily on snowmaking for its slopes. Cataloochee is known for having one of the longest seasons...
Ski Valley Official Tourism and Travel Website. Retrieved 2022-06-28. "Snowmaking". Arizona Snowbowl. Retrieved 2022-10-12. "Sunrise Park Resort Ski Resort...
snow-tubing slope, a triple chairlift, and improvements to the lighting, snowmaking and snow grooming equipment. A non detachable chairlift brings up skiers...
Klik snowmaking hydrants to a number of their trails. Stratton has 99 trails over 670 acres (2.7 km2) of skiable terrain, 95% of which has snowmaking. 40%...
Wilder Kaiser - Brixental acquired its first snowmaking equipment 1987 Installation of the first snowmaking system in Brixen Construction of the first "bubble"...