It’s 19°F (-7.222°C) outside, but I see that snow is melting. How is that possible when it’s below freezing?
In: Physics
Because although the ambient temperature is below the freezing point, the sun can heat the ground above the freezing temperature. I would wager if you took an IR thermometer and measured ground/surface temp of objects you would find they are above the freezing point.
Not that this answers your question further, but this brings up the fact that water is honestly one of the most interesting substances on the planet in that it can remain liquid below its actual freezing point. This is because to freeze, the water molecules must stop moving. So, a river can continue to flow well below 32F. We have actually observed liquid water in clouds at -40F, and we have been able to achieve -42F in labs. I believe (don’t quote me here because I can’t remember perfectly) that water does not HAVE to freeze until around -55ishF.
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