The snow can be noisy under our steps when the ice crystals that make it up are very dense and rigid, which produces significant friction when walking on it. This phenomenon is accentuated by temperatures close to the melting point of snow.
When you walk on the snow, you apply pressure that crushes and breaks many small ice crystals. As they break, these crystals release mini sound vibrations. It is these vibrations that produce the typical sound that resembles a slight cracking or creaking. The sound is sharper and louder when the crystals are dry and cold because they are then stiffer and more brittle. In contrast, when the snow is soft or wet, the crystals deform without really breaking, resulting in little noise.
The noise made by snow depends greatly on the shape and size of its crystals. Fresh snow with light and delicate crystals absorbs sound better, producing a soft and muffled sound underfoot. In contrast, when the crystals are more compact, angular, and rigid—typically after a few days or following a slight thaw followed by a freeze—they break suddenly under the weight of a step and release a dry, cracking noise, sometimes even a squeak. The crystalline structure is therefore crucial: the harder and better-structured the crystal is, the more clearly (and loudly) it breaks under our shoes.
The outside temperature plays an important role in how the snow sounds under your feet. When it’s cold and dry, often around -5°C, the flakes become stiffer and more brittle: you then hear that famous characteristic crunch. If it warms up to around 0°C, the snow crystals become softer, almost "sticky," and make much less noise when they crush under your shoe. Conversely, during a rapid drop in temperature, melted snow refreezes on the surface, forming a crust of ice that easily cracks under the weight of your body. These thermal fluctuations create all the sound variety you notice while walking.
When the snow is wet, it loses its typical crunchiness, becoming compact and silent under our feet. In contrast, cold, dry snow contains air trapped within its crystals. This air acts as an amplifier, and when these crystals break under the pressure of our feet, it produces that distinctive sound. Density also plays a role: very dense, compacted snow absorbs sounds better and thus becomes less noisy, while light and low-density snow will produce that famous clear and sharp crunch we love to hear under our soles.
When you walk, the pressure exerted by your weight crushes the snow crystals, causing them to burst quickly, which enhances the characteristic sound you hear under your feet. The faster you walk, the more abruptly the crystals break, producing a drier and crackling sound. Conversely, walking slowly distributes the weight better and allows the snow to gradually settle, making the sound softer and muffled. Therefore, it is mainly your weight and the rhythm of your steps that alter how the snow "crunches" beneath you.
Compact and dense snow (like that on ski slopes or well-trodden paths) often generates a less pronounced noise than fresh snow, as its crystals are already partially broken or compacted.
The lower the outside temperature during a snowfall, the smaller and drier the formed crystals will generally be, thus enhancing the noise when walking on them.
Snow crystals are not just star-shaped; they come in various other forms such as needles, plates, or even hexagonal columns, depending on the weather conditions during their formation.
Fresh snow that crunches under our feet is generally made up of dry, cold crystals, while wet or melting snow tends to absorb sound more, making our footsteps quieter.
Sure, here’s the translation: "Yes, absolutely. Shoes with hard or stiff soles can amplify the noise, as they cause a more abrupt compression of the crystals. On the other hand, soft or wider soles tend to distribute the pressure of the step, reducing the sound intensity produced by the snow."
Fresh snow often has a light structure made up of distinct and fragile crystals. Under the weight of footsteps, these crystals easily break apart, creating that characteristic sound. Old snow, on the other hand, has already undergone settling, which reduces the spaces between the crystals and therefore diminishes the sound underfoot.
Partially yes. Snow that creaks loudly often indicates fresh, very cold powder, which is ideal for winter sports like skiing or snowshoeing. Conversely, very silent snow may be a sign of partial melting or high humidity, which can make it heavy or less pleasant for certain winter activities.
Wet snow is generally less noisy due to the water it contains, which brings and binds the crystals together. When stepped on, it tends to compact silently rather than breaking loudly like dry snow would.
When temperatures are very low, snow crystals become more rigid and fragile. When walking on them, they break suddenly, producing the characteristic cracking sound that we hear loudly in cold weather.
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