Friday, 22 December 2023

Anthropogenic Snow

Large white bands appeared on the ground near London's Heathrow Airport in January 2023. This was snow, despite the relatively dry conditions prevailing in that location (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/20/rare-industrial-snowfall-thought-to-be-caused-by-pollution-recorded-in-uk). The phenomenon appeared to be 'anthropogenic' (human-caused) or 'industrial' snow. The snow hadn't fallen from the clouds. Moisture in cold air had condensed around fine air pollution particles to form the flakes. Industry had effectively 'seeded' the event. Such anthropogenic snow has been seen in other industrialised areas of the globe.

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