Final answer:
Ice and snow impact the atmosphere through their phase change and heat exchange processes, with large amounts of heat required for melting. Supercooling in clouds affects precipitation patterns. The thermal properties of ice and snow contribute to long-term climate patterns by affecting water cycles and storage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ice and snow have a unique impact in the atmosphere when compared to clouds and rain due to the different phase changes and heat exchange processes involved.
Snow is formed from ice crystals and is the solid phase of water. An enormous amount of heat is necessary to induce phase changes, meaning it takes time for snow to melt even if the air temperature is above 0°C. The process is quicker in warmer air due to faster heat exchange.
Additionally, supercooling effects impact the earth's climate significantly, as water droplets in clouds need to surpass the supercooling state and aggregate around nuclei to fall as precipitation. This often requires intervention like cloud seeding or the dispersing of dry ice to initiate the formation of ice crystals that catalyze raindrop formation.
The thermal properties of ice and snow are also different. Snow can remain on mountain slopes even when temperatures rise above freezing point because the air needs to be sufficiently warm for a period to transfer the necessary heat to melt the snow.
This plays a major role in climate dynamics and water storage in the form of glaciers or ice caps, influencing long-term water cycles and climate patterns.