Is there any real advantage to having snow? Evolutionary or intelligent design, Whatever you believe in. If this white shit didn’t fall on us would it in any way jeopardize our existence? Would crops be affected? Lake/river levels?
What survival benefit does this crap deliver to our species. I’m talking mainly here in Milwaukee, 'cause I’m sick of this already and it’s only mid-December! :mad: God I hate winter!
Complain to your local God, leave me out of it.
It provides irrigation by melting and running downhill in the summer months, when there is little rainfall.
That said, I would appreciate it if it would stick to falling on the mountains and leave us lowlanders alone.
Snow doesn’t reproduce so it cannot evolve. It is a by-product of the natural laws of the world.
Chucks a snowball at the grinches.
Snow doesn’t have a “purpose” or “advantage.” It’s a product of chemistry. Teleology misunderstands simple mechanics of nature.
That said, as an environmental factor in evolution, organisms may adapt themselves to make it into an “advantage” of sorts, like foxes and rabbits developing white outer coats to blend in with their snowy surroundings.
None. “Survival benefits” are transferred by the change in the frequency of alleles from one generation of any biological population to the next.
God damn flakes! Keep off my lawn!!
They can stay on my lawn. Just get off the driveway!
But… but… it’s so white and fluffy and purty! Skiers and little kids with sleds like it, and so do I.
Do you have a number, because whenever I call the exchange they just tell me that the number I have has been disconnected…
As for the o.p., there is no need or reason that there should be a “purpose” for snow. Snow is not alive, doesn’t evolve, is not a heritable trait, or in any other way requiring explanation for purpose or evolution any more than does a photon or a tornado. There are physical reasons why snow condenses in crystalline form, but this isn’t indicative of a teleology for snow.
As for the value of snow and the glacial structures it makes, it forms a reservoir for water in temperate climates (allowing mountains to function as moderating watersheds during the spring and summer seasons), stores water in quasi-permanent polar glacial structures which allow for greater exposed land mass, and of course allows some of us to enjoy snow sports. The high albedo also permits snow-based features to survive and regulates melting rates from radiation. There are also many plant and animal species which are evolved for and dependent upon snow for their livelihood, and I’m sure they’d miss it if it were gone.
Sorry to hear of your dissatisfaction for snow and winter, but that would tend to argue against Wisconsin as a suitable place for you to reside. Have you considered moving, 'cause I can pretty much guarantee that complaining about snow on a message board won’t make it go away.
Stranger
Snow? WTF is snow?! 
It makes Colorado livable the other 6 months of the year. Most of my water comes from snowmelt. Also, it makes Californians and Texans crash into each other (and me on occasion) thus keeping body shops and automakers in business.
It’s what causes drivers from Florida to get into a 93-car pileup while careening down the interstate at more than 12 miles per hour.
If you watch (about five minutes in, but it’t all worth watching) this very informative BBC documentary for schools and colleges, you’ll learn that the main purpose of snow is entertainment
What are birds, anyway?
You’re really begging me to make this a pit thread, aren’t you?
Seriously, though, my neice was born in Florida (Ft. Myers) and had never left there until she was 17 and came here for a visit in December 2 years ago. Her reaction to it was cute. Until I insisted she help shovel. Then it was hillarious. (“This sucks, Uncle Paul!”)
This crap in Milwaukee ain’t fluffy. I’m not looking foward to shovelling when I get home. It’s coming down like little tiny wet snowballs, turning to slush as soon as it hits the ground. Oooo and lucky us, it’s supposed to freeze over later this afternoon. Can’t wait.
I’m sure a few people have eliminated themselves from the gene pool by killing themselves via some stupid act in the snow. Hmmm…like maybe driving their over-sized SUV way too fast for the snowy road conditions, because they thought 4wd was gonna help them. I’m sure some genes barreled down a snowy ravine and were never passed on to others.
That’s the best I got. Snow is part of our environment. Doesn’t have a purpose.
Snow is just one of the things that formed when the Earth was created…5000 years ago…by God.
These words you use. They are strange to us.