Sublimation is the process where ice or snow turns directly into water vapor (gas) without melting into liquid, occurring in cold, dry, and sunny conditions, often at high altitudes. It happens when low humidity, strong winds, and intense sunlight provide enough energy to break molecular bonds, causing snowbanks to shrink or clothes to dry while frozen. Key Weather Factors for Sublimation: Low Relative Humidity: Dry air is essential to absorb moisture. Strong Wind: High winds accelerate the process by moving moisture away. Intense Sunlight/Solar Radiation: Provides energy to break bonds, even in below-freezing temperatures. Low Pressure: Common at high altitudes, which facilitates the transition. Common Examples: Snowpack Reduction: Snow disappears from the ground without leaving liquid water behind. Ice/Snow on Roofs: Ice directly turns into water vapor. Dry Ice: Solid carbon dioxide turning into a gas is a common visual example. Freezing Laundry: Clothes dried on a line below . The opposite process, where water vapor turns directly into ice, is known as deposition.
This is what we saw out our windows today:
the geese taking advantage of what grass is now revealed:
