Under the Snow—Digging a Tunnel (Video)
Want More?This activity is just one part of the Young Explorers page featured in the Winter 2017 issue of Explore. |
When snow falls, it creates a blanket on the ground that traps the little bit of heat that rises out of the earth. The heat melts just the bottom layer of snow, and this creates a pocket of air that is exactly the right size for tiny creatures to burrow and build tunnels underneath it. Scientists call this the Subnivean Zone.
Watch the video below for a first-hand look at a subnivean creature digging a tunnel under the snow right before your eyes!
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