After heavy snowfall: Why does it seem quieter?

Large swathes of Scotland and Northern England have just had heavy snow blanket the scene, have you ever noticed how quiet the world seems when it's snowing?

Some of this can be explained by the fact that people tend to stay home when it’s snowing. This means there are fewer cars on the road and less people around. But it’s also due to the delicate structure of a snowflake.

Sound travels in waves and needs to vibrate the molecules of whatever it’s travelling through in order to be transmitted. Snowflakes, however, have holes and gaps in their structure. This reduces any vibrations, which helps dampen sound and reduces noise.

So if you’re lucky enough to see snow over the coming days, take a moment to appreciate the silence. It’s nature’s way of taking a break. And make the most of it, because when snow begins to melt, it’s shape changes and the silence is broken.