Champagne powder

Champagne powder (German also champagne powder ) describes a particularly soft and dry powder snow that is ideal for skiing . The term comes from the ski resorts of the American Rocky Mountains , where such snow conditions are particularly common.

Occurrence

In principle, there can be weather conditions for champagne powder in all ski areas . The special meteorological conditions for this snow regularly only exist in the snowy heights of the inner valleys of the Rocky Mountains. In the United States , this occurs particularly in the states of Montana and Colorado . In Canada there is champagne powder from British Columbia to Alberta , from Kamloops to the Kicking Horse Pass to Calgary . Champagne powder falls all the way to Alaska .

In the Rockys, intense snowfalls often set in as early as November and December. Then you have a lot of fresh snow and the skiing conditions are particularly good when it's cold. The best conditions for champagne powder should be in February, when large snowfalls begin. In March it is often warmer again due to the more intense solar radiation . When the flakes melt, there is more likely to be spring snow in these areas.

Emergence

The Arctic highs that regularly occur in North America with cold air moving south are the engine of champagne powder. It then snows frequently and intensely in the areas mentioned.

Based on comparisons based on internationally valid classification systems , it was found that snowflakes falling from the sky hardly differ from one another. When it snows, the snow is a little warmer in the Rockys, which means that the snowflakes can form well. However, between 3,000 and 4,000 meters above sea level, the air is cold and the snow immediately cools down and freezes. Due to the altitude , the snow stays extremely dry and therefore does not get sticky as easily as in other ski areas.

In the European Alps , the Atlantic determines the climate. The moisture comes from him and the air is usually only moderately damp and cold, but rarely really cold. There can also be powder snow in the Alps if the lows don't come from the Atlantic. Experienced skiers know that good powder snow is more likely to be found at higher altitudes, in the Alps most likely on glacier ski areas that are over 2500 m above sea level. NN lie. But even below this height you can occasionally encounter champagne powder.

Web links

• Wenke Husmann: Mythos champagne powder , Interview, Die Zeit 48/2001, November 22, 2001, accessed November 24, 2014.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Andrew Lester: Skiing in Colorado: Tingles like champagne , Spiegel Online , November 23, 2012 accessed November 24, 2014.