Why Does Snow Sparkle?

It’s a snow day! You look outside to see clear blue skies and a fresh blanket of snow covering your front yard. You bundle up in your hat, gloves, snow pants, coat, and boots to head outside. As you leave your footprints in the white powder covering your driveway, you notice that the snow is glittering. What’s happening?

Well, on the fourth day of creation week, God created the sun to give off heat and light, making life on earth possible. When the light from the sun reaches earth, three things can happen:

1. It can be absorbed. The surface that absorbs the sunlight often becomes hotter, like pavement in the summertime. Most surfaces that absorb the sun’s rays are dark colors.
2. It can be transmitted. This happens when light passes through a clear object, like a water bottle.
3. It can be reflected, or bounced in a new direction, like on a mirror. Most surfaces that reflect the sun’s rays are light colors.

What do you think happens when light hits the snow?

If you guessed the light is reflected, you’re right! The top layer of snow is covered in tiny ice crystals that reflect sunlight. This sensation is called “snow sparkle,” because it makes the snow glitter.

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