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How do you make a mountain snowy? How do you make a mountain snowy?
(about 4 hours later)
The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver kick off on Friday. But faced with a lack of cold weather organisers are having to lay on snow themselves. So how exactly does that work?The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver kick off on Friday. But faced with a lack of cold weather organisers are having to lay on snow themselves. So how exactly does that work?
For a big event like the Winter Olympics every last detail is planned. But even then there are some things the organisers can't control - like the unpredictable weather. Temperatures in January in Vancouver hit a record average high of 7.2C, and there's been a distinct lack of snowfall in some places.For a big event like the Winter Olympics every last detail is planned. But even then there are some things the organisers can't control - like the unpredictable weather. Temperatures in January in Vancouver hit a record average high of 7.2C, and there's been a distinct lack of snowfall in some places.
THE ANSWER Snow is moved from other areas using trucks and helicoptersIt doesn't melt because snow insulates itselfArtificial snow is also made using machinesBales of hay have also been laid to bulk up the areaTHE ANSWER Snow is moved from other areas using trucks and helicoptersIt doesn't melt because snow insulates itselfArtificial snow is also made using machinesBales of hay have also been laid to bulk up the area
The resort of Whistler which will host many of the skiing events is well covered. But it's a different story two hours south at Cypress Mountain, which will host the snowboarding and free-styling events. There it has been almost bare in comparison.The resort of Whistler which will host many of the skiing events is well covered. But it's a different story two hours south at Cypress Mountain, which will host the snowboarding and free-styling events. There it has been almost bare in comparison.
So, the Vancouver Olympic Committee has enacted its "contingency plan" to ensure there is snow there. Cypress Mountain has 600 acres (240 hectares) of skiable terrain, and a vertical rise of 610m. It is the highest of the North Shore Mountains. To artificially create a complete Alpine feel involves a combination of different approaches.So, the Vancouver Olympic Committee has enacted its "contingency plan" to ensure there is snow there. Cypress Mountain has 600 acres (240 hectares) of skiable terrain, and a vertical rise of 610m. It is the highest of the North Shore Mountains. To artificially create a complete Alpine feel involves a combination of different approaches.
One is to ship in snow from areas where it has been plentiful. Another is to use machine-made artificial snow. And to conceal the lack of depth, hay bales - which are then covered in a surface of snow - are being brought in to bulk out the course.One is to ship in snow from areas where it has been plentiful. Another is to use machine-made artificial snow. And to conceal the lack of depth, hay bales - which are then covered in a surface of snow - are being brought in to bulk out the course.
Moving snowMoving snow
The committee has been using road and air to transport the snow. Helicopters have been dumping it on to higher ground, and trucks have also been carrying it. Some snow has been brought in from areas up to 150 miles away.The committee has been using road and air to transport the snow. Helicopters have been dumping it on to higher ground, and trucks have also been carrying it. Some snow has been brought in from areas up to 150 miles away.
"They're using a conventional dumper truck which they're filling up with snow and covering with a tarpaulin," explains Lizzie Crookenden from the Ski Club of Great Britain. She, like many winter sports enthusiasts, has been keenly watching the preparations."They're using a conventional dumper truck which they're filling up with snow and covering with a tarpaulin," explains Lizzie Crookenden from the Ski Club of Great Britain. She, like many winter sports enthusiasts, has been keenly watching the preparations.
"It won't melt," she adds, "it will hold its temperature for a certain amount of time because of the volume of it.""It won't melt," she adds, "it will hold its temperature for a certain amount of time because of the volume of it."
Once the snow has made the distance it is flattened by snowcats, also known as piste-bashers - a common sight on any ski slope after hours. These machines have a big snow plough at the front which drives over the snow to flatten it out.Once the snow has made the distance it is flattened by snowcats, also known as piste-bashers - a common sight on any ski slope after hours. These machines have a big snow plough at the front which drives over the snow to flatten it out.
Snow canon Snow cannon
The next method organisers are employing to create a blanket of white is by using a snow machine, or "snow canon". The official 2010 games website explains how Cypress Mountain has a snow-making reservoir which has been converting more than 95 million litres of water to snow since last November. This snow has already been stockpiled and placed on different parts of the mountain to ensure it doesn't melt. The next method organisers are employing to create a blanket of white is by using a snow machine, or "snow cannon". The official 2010 games website explains how Cypress Mountain has a snow-making reservoir which has been converting more than 95 million litres of water to snow since last November. This snow has already been stockpiled and placed on different parts of the mountain to ensure it doesn't melt.
The machines work on a simple principle.The machines work on a simple principle.
"They blow a mixture of air and water through a nozzle which then goes out as a fine spray and forms into ice crystals as it falls to the ground. You need low enough temperatures to do that," explains David Stirland, who has developed a number of indoor ski slopes across the UK."They blow a mixture of air and water through a nozzle which then goes out as a fine spray and forms into ice crystals as it falls to the ground. You need low enough temperatures to do that," explains David Stirland, who has developed a number of indoor ski slopes across the UK.
To cover a 61m square area with 15cm of snow would take 310,000 litres of water, the equivalent of 11 truck tankers full according to SMI snowmaking, the company which makes the machines used at Cypress Mountain. Its website estimates that 18,900 litres of water can be converted into snow every minute.To cover a 61m square area with 15cm of snow would take 310,000 litres of water, the equivalent of 11 truck tankers full according to SMI snowmaking, the company which makes the machines used at Cypress Mountain. Its website estimates that 18,900 litres of water can be converted into snow every minute.
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Cypress Mountain preparing for the GamesCypress Mountain preparing for the Games
As Mr Stirland explains the artificial snow that is made has a different texture to nature's own: "It's not actually a fluffy snowflake, it's really a soft ice particle. Using a snow canon means it hasn't got the time to form into a proper snow crystal." As Mr Stirland explains the artificial snow that is made has a different texture to nature's own: "It's not actually a fluffy snowflake, it's really a soft ice particle. Using a snow cannon means it hasn't got the time to form into a proper snow crystal."
But even with large amounts of snow being made and moved, organisers have to resort to other methods as well. More than a thousand bales of straw have been delivered to the site. This is to replace the base of snow which had been expected to fall and build up in recent months.But even with large amounts of snow being made and moved, organisers have to resort to other methods as well. More than a thousand bales of straw have been delivered to the site. This is to replace the base of snow which had been expected to fall and build up in recent months.
The Olympic committee says on its website that approximately 800 of these bales have been airlifted into place by helicopter to "to shape and construct snowboard cross and ski cross course features, which will also be covered with a layer of snow".The Olympic committee says on its website that approximately 800 of these bales have been airlifted into place by helicopter to "to shape and construct snowboard cross and ski cross course features, which will also be covered with a layer of snow".
The snow doesn't melt while in transit because of the large quantitiesThe snow doesn't melt while in transit because of the large quantities
But is there any point in transporting snow to somewhere where it has been too warm to fall?But is there any point in transporting snow to somewhere where it has been too warm to fall?
Once the snow has been laid what are the chances of it melting? Lizzie Crookenden says that it's likely that man-made snow will be pumped onto the course each night to ensure it compacts and stays as it is. For the half pipe, in which competitors perform their routine on the inside of a half-cylinder shaped snow tube, organisers are also considering using chemicals to harden the snow.Once the snow has been laid what are the chances of it melting? Lizzie Crookenden says that it's likely that man-made snow will be pumped onto the course each night to ensure it compacts and stays as it is. For the half pipe, in which competitors perform their routine on the inside of a half-cylinder shaped snow tube, organisers are also considering using chemicals to harden the snow.
Training began this week on Cypress Mountain. World Cup freestyle skiing champion Hannah Kearney described it as "absolutely fine... it's as if there was no problem."Training began this week on Cypress Mountain. World Cup freestyle skiing champion Hannah Kearney described it as "absolutely fine... it's as if there was no problem."
That might be the case but the organisers are leaving nothing to chance.That might be the case but the organisers are leaving nothing to chance.
WHO, WHAT, WHY? A regular part of the BBC News Magazine, Who, What, Why? aims to answer some of the questions behind the headlinesWHO, WHAT, WHY? A regular part of the BBC News Magazine, Who, What, Why? aims to answer some of the questions behind the headlines
"There's still a lot of snow being trucked and flown in to ensure we have enough contingency snow if the warm weather continues," explains Dave Cobb, from the organising committee."There's still a lot of snow being trucked and flown in to ensure we have enough contingency snow if the warm weather continues," explains Dave Cobb, from the organising committee.
It's worth noting that this is not the first time there has been a snow shortage at this event. At the 1964 Innsbruck Games there was also a lack of the white stuff. The Austrian army carved out 20,000 blocks of ice from the mountainside and took it to the bobsled and luge tracks, as well as transporting 1.4 million cubic feet of snow to the ski slopes.It's worth noting that this is not the first time there has been a snow shortage at this event. At the 1964 Innsbruck Games there was also a lack of the white stuff. The Austrian army carved out 20,000 blocks of ice from the mountainside and took it to the bobsled and luge tracks, as well as transporting 1.4 million cubic feet of snow to the ski slopes.