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Can building snowmen really help to prevent flooding? Can building snowmen really help to prevent flooding?
(about 2 hours later)
By Jon Welch BBC News OnlineBy Jon Welch BBC News Online
As government directives go, advising people to build a snowman to help prevent flooding is among the more bizarre.As government directives go, advising people to build a snowman to help prevent flooding is among the more bizarre.
An Environment Agency spokesman has been widely quoted as suggesting snowmen could help stop floods by slowing down thawing.An Environment Agency spokesman has been widely quoted as suggesting snowmen could help stop floods by slowing down thawing.
The agency has since qualified its comments, saying that it is unlikely to make much difference.The agency has since qualified its comments, saying that it is unlikely to make much difference.
But experts say that, as strange as it may sound, there is some truth behind the suggestion.But experts say that, as strange as it may sound, there is some truth behind the suggestion.
An area of rain is forecast to cross the South West on Friday which, combined with the melting snow, is predicted to cause some minor flooding in the region. Dr Sim Reaney, lecturer in physical geography at the University of Durham, said: "On a very practical level, it does actually make some sense.
Roy Stokes, of the Environment Agency, was reported as saying: "Ideally if everyone built themselves a snowman it will slow the thaw down a bit. 'Longer to thaw'
"If you notice when people clear their drive the snow thaws away but the compacted piles stay.
"That would give a balanced thaw which would be helpful."
The agency later issued a statement to clarify the issue.
'Makes some sense'
"When snow is compacted, as it is when you build a snowman or drive over it in a car park, for example, it melts at a slower rate," it said.
"But while building snowmen is great fun, sadly it is unlikely to make a significant difference to the overall rate at which the snow melts across the country and won't protect your home from flooding."
But Dr Sim Reaney, lecturer in physical geography at the University of Durham, said: "On a very practical level, it does actually make some sense.
"I've read through some of the stuff myself. The more you pile up snow, the longer it takes to melt."I've read through some of the stuff myself. The more you pile up snow, the longer it takes to melt.
"It was an interesting headline but there is some science behind it. I can see how it would work."It was an interesting headline but there is some science behind it. I can see how it would work.
"Rain on snow is a big cause of flood events. Any snow that is compacted takes longer to thaw, whether it be on a road or as snowman." "Rain on snow is a big cause of flood events. Any snow that is compacted takes longer to thaw, whether it be on a road or as a snowman."
'White terracotta army'
Dr Reaney said that in urban areas, where melted snow runs directly off roads and pavements into drains, snowmen would make more of a difference than in fields where it would take longer for the water to filter into watercourses.Dr Reaney said that in urban areas, where melted snow runs directly off roads and pavements into drains, snowmen would make more of a difference than in fields where it would take longer for the water to filter into watercourses.
"You are making a difference," he said."You are making a difference," he said.
"It is action at a sensitive place in the landscape. You are doing something where it needs to happen.""It is action at a sensitive place in the landscape. You are doing something where it needs to happen."
But Dr Reaney was sceptical that snowmen could have a major impact on the rate of thaw.But Dr Reaney was sceptical that snowmen could have a major impact on the rate of thaw.
"If everybody made a snowman, it doesn't actually take up that much snow," he said."If everybody made a snowman, it doesn't actually take up that much snow," he said.
"The country is covered from top to bottom.""The country is covered from top to bottom."
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Weather forecaster Jim Bacon of WeatherQuest, based at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, agreed.Weather forecaster Jim Bacon of WeatherQuest, based at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, agreed.
"If you look at the masses of fields we have, you'd probably need a white terracotta army," he said."If you look at the masses of fields we have, you'd probably need a white terracotta army," he said.
But Mr Bacon said the underlying theory behind the suggestion was sound.But Mr Bacon said the underlying theory behind the suggestion was sound.
"Snow is melting all the time from the warmth of the ground underneath it, and the warmth of the air moving over it," he said."Snow is melting all the time from the warmth of the ground underneath it, and the warmth of the air moving over it," he said.
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"If you roll it up into a ball, you're decreasing the surface area and that would slow down the rate of melting.""If you roll it up into a ball, you're decreasing the surface area and that would slow down the rate of melting."
The flaw in the theory, he said, was the time lag between the snow melting and the water reaching rivers.The flaw in the theory, he said, was the time lag between the snow melting and the water reaching rivers.
"A lot of the time when you get flooding, it's due to the slow accumulation of water. It takes a while for water to filter through the ground and into the rivers."A lot of the time when you get flooding, it's due to the slow accumulation of water. It takes a while for water to filter through the ground and into the rivers.
"It might well be that the rate of melt from snowmen coincides with the water going into the rivers over a longer time frame so it wouldn't help.""It might well be that the rate of melt from snowmen coincides with the water going into the rivers over a longer time frame so it wouldn't help."
So what can you do? The latest advice from the Environment Agency is perhaps more sensible, if not quite as much fun.So what can you do? The latest advice from the Environment Agency is perhaps more sensible, if not quite as much fun.
"The most important thing anyone can do to protect themselves from flooding is to check out if they are in a flood risk area, and sign up to free flood warnings on the Environment Agency website," said a spokesman."The most important thing anyone can do to protect themselves from flooding is to check out if they are in a flood risk area, and sign up to free flood warnings on the Environment Agency website," said a spokesman.