We had a nor-easter the other day which brought high winds, gusting to nearly 40 mph, and swirling wind. Interestingly the snow accumulated on the western side of the trees. I have never seen such a thing in my entire life. I asked around for an explanation and the best was that the trees acted like a leading edge of a plane's wing and created a "vacuum" effect on the opposite side of the wind. As a scientist and keen observer of nature, I have no idea why I was never aware of this, and why, the meteorologist said that no one has ever asked this question before.
Very cool shots. I'm not a scientist so I'll take a back seat. I would have thought it was due to wind direction when the snow was falling hardest. Not a lot of obstructions to hit. It is fun to see nature do something you haven't seen before. And to be in the very specific conditions it takes. I had a bizarre one in December. Brown snow. I'd heard of it but haven't seen it. Hadn't appeared here in decades. It was from a freak dust storm in the desert that moved up the mountains and worked in to the snow. Conditions had to be perfect. Glad it was natural because it looked a little toxic.
The constant air flowing by the round tree profiles creates a low pressure zone which attracts the particles to the back side. Were it to continue, eventually it would form a teardrop shape.
@HannibalAteMeOut Heh, i have lived 80+ years and never saw this before, or never paid any attention to it! It is important to continue to learn, and to incorporate the new knowledge in your data base!
Hang on, i just received an email from a meteorologist at Rutgers University:
"I assume you are talking about the snow on March 14. Actually, the winds were from the WNW that day, so the snow was indeed on the windward side of the trees. This noreaster had already passed us (and was stalled out over New England) by the time the snow was falling. We did have the customary NE winds (and some rain) on the 13th as the storm approached."
It made a good story though, I am awaiting other confirmation about the change in wind.
SW-User
I recall hearing about that effect but I have never seen it in person
@SW-User I learned about it in physics, but no one ever mentioned the effect this way. I know of its use in developing a siphon, and in the concept of flying, but, seeing it with my own eyes on the trees was startling. There was an eraly TV show, during the very early days of TV, called Mr. Wizard. Many scientists of my age got their interest in experimentation from the show.
