What is the R-value of snow?

Discussion in 'HortForum' started by Weekend Gardener, Dec 7, 2006.

  1. Weekend Gardener

    Weekend Gardener Active Member 10 Years

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    For dry, uncompacted snow? The question came up during the recent cold snap in British Columbia, and as I was building snow piles on top of my huddled-together-containers. How much is enough?

    So far, I have come across the following "answers", applicable to dry snow with about 10% volume water:

    1. Ten inches of fresh snow with a density of 0.07 inches, seven percent water, is
    approximately equal to a six-inch-layer of fiberglass insulation with an
    insulation R-value of R-18.

    2. One inch of snow has an R-value of 1.

    Any thoughts on this?
     
  2. jimmyq

    jimmyq Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    sounds reasonable....
     
  3. petauridae

    petauridae Active Member

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    Now this is a really cool (ugh, bad pun! Sorry) topic.

    What equations, etc. have you located for this?

    Reason I am interested, is that I teach chemistry and could see a really unique lab coming out of this.....
     
  4. Weekend Gardener

    Weekend Gardener Active Member 10 Years

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    No equations. Just quotes from "not peer reviewed" websites. I can't find any "official" figure any where.
     
  5. billy bob

    billy bob Member

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    the more snow on my roof the warmer my house is ?
     
  6. vitog

    vitog Contributor 10 Years

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    Keep in mind that they're talking about dry snow, something we never see on the "Wet Coast".
     

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