Question

Consider a hill or building, such as Founders Hall. All else equal, you would expect snow to melt slowest

A) On the north-facing slope
B) On the south-facing slope
C) On the flat, open area
D) On the side facing the prevailing winds

Answer 1

Snow typically melts slowest on the north-facing slope of a hill or building in the northern hemisphere due to less direct sunlight exposure, which affects the speed of the snow's phase change from solid to liquid.

Step-by-step explanation:

Considering the question about where snow would melt slowest, among a hill or building like Founders Hall, it's important to understand the effects of sun exposure, temperature, and wind on snowmelt. On a hill or mountain in the northern hemisphere, snow tends to melt slowest on the north-facing slope because this side receives less direct sunlight than the south-facing slope, impacting how quickly the accumulated heat can cause the snow to change from a solid to a liquid. On the other hand, south-facing slopes receive more direct sunlight and thus tend to be warmer and drier, leading to faster snow melt. Furthermore, a flat, open area might see a quicker melt due to full exposure to the sun, depending on other conditions such as ambient temperature and wind. Wind can increase heat transfer from the snow's surface, leading to slightly faster melting. However, in the context of the question, which specifically asks you to consider the directional orientation and ignore wind exposure, the north-facing slopes would typically see snow melting at the slowest rate since they would be less exposed to direct solar radiation.