How is artificial snow produced?

A number of tourist -oriented cities in mild or hot areas contain large isolated buildings filled with artificial snow so that people can ski. These artificial snow slopes can be found in Germany, Japan and even in some Middle East, such as Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. These structures produce a realistic appearance and a feeling of snowboarding and skiing throughout the year. Artificial snow is also produced in the entertainment industry for use as a support or background.

How is it possible to produce artificial snow? Several components are necessary. First, the wall of the structure containing snow must be insulated very well. Insulated double -skinned walls are commonly used. In some artificial snow slopes, the insulation is so good that the snow will melt for weeks, even if all cooling systems have been turned off) into a cloud of atomized liquid water. Giant cooling systems reduce the total interior temperature to -8 ° C (17.6 ° F). Sometimes other seed materials are used exceptIce pellets such as magnesium, calcium or clay particles or organic substances. Any small impurities will work to some extent. The seed material that creates the most realistic artificial snow is a frozen protein powder derived from the pseudomonas syringae called Snomax®, but ice pellets are most commonly used.

When seed particles pass through water vapor and down towards the floor, they accumulate snow crystals and turn into artificial snow. The idea is that all particles freeze before they hit the ground. Under the floor systems using glycol and liquid ammonia cool down the floor further and create the ideal padding of artificial snow, which carefully simulates natural conditions.