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The mysterious smoking rock piles
I don't remember if I've mentioned the smoking gravel piles in past entries, but it's gotten cold again, -20, and the gravel pit is smoking, as it is wont to do at that temperature.
I don't know what causes it. I have a theory, but it's hard to believe it could actually DO this. Basically, certain points on the piles of rock tailings in the gravel pit have plumes of steam coming up from them. I climbed up on one of the rock piles for a closer look today, and where the steam is coming up, the snow is melted in a hole that goes all the way down to bare rocks. The rocks are damp, but not freezing, and similarly, the moss on the rocks is wet but not frozen. When I put my hand in there, it's cold but not nearly as cold as the surrounding air.
My theory (actually, a theory suggested by the previous owners of the house) is that it's caused by water percolating through the gravel. Open, unfrozen water steams in extreme cold, and it is possible that the relative warmth from the moving water works its way up through the loose rocks and comes out the top. The plumes of steam are always in the same places and only show up when it gets really cold.
Orion suggested that it's also possible the steam plumes are from underground colonies of mammals, such as voles.
It's still weird. I tried to take a picture of it, but you really can't see the steam at all.
I'm standing in the driveway looking up at the snow-covered rock piles (they're about 15 feet high or so). Small, wispy plumes of steam are coming off the top (the part that's circled). Behind it is the conifer-covered hill that defines the south side of our valley.
Speaking of the valley ...
Here is the sun creeping down the far side of the valley (the north side). This is actually the shadow of the hill behind our house that you are seeing. At this time of year, the sun doesn't rise high enough to clear the shadow. (This picture was actually taken a couple of days ago, but things haven't changed.)
Picture taken on my usual daily walk (on weekends) to pick up the mail from the mailbox at the highway, 3/4 of a mile from the house. The mailboxes look sad and lonely in the snow...
Standing at the mailboxes, looking across the road. Same hill as in the earlier photo, only closer now. The reddish-colored things are some sort of stacked metal objects that sit on the other side of the highway from our mailbox. They've been there ever since we moved in, and I haven't a clue what they are, why they're there or who (if anyone) owns them.
I don't know what causes it. I have a theory, but it's hard to believe it could actually DO this. Basically, certain points on the piles of rock tailings in the gravel pit have plumes of steam coming up from them. I climbed up on one of the rock piles for a closer look today, and where the steam is coming up, the snow is melted in a hole that goes all the way down to bare rocks. The rocks are damp, but not freezing, and similarly, the moss on the rocks is wet but not frozen. When I put my hand in there, it's cold but not nearly as cold as the surrounding air.
My theory (actually, a theory suggested by the previous owners of the house) is that it's caused by water percolating through the gravel. Open, unfrozen water steams in extreme cold, and it is possible that the relative warmth from the moving water works its way up through the loose rocks and comes out the top. The plumes of steam are always in the same places and only show up when it gets really cold.
Orion suggested that it's also possible the steam plumes are from underground colonies of mammals, such as voles.
It's still weird. I tried to take a picture of it, but you really can't see the steam at all.
I'm standing in the driveway looking up at the snow-covered rock piles (they're about 15 feet high or so). Small, wispy plumes of steam are coming off the top (the part that's circled). Behind it is the conifer-covered hill that defines the south side of our valley.
Speaking of the valley ...
Here is the sun creeping down the far side of the valley (the north side). This is actually the shadow of the hill behind our house that you are seeing. At this time of year, the sun doesn't rise high enough to clear the shadow. (This picture was actually taken a couple of days ago, but things haven't changed.)
Picture taken on my usual daily walk (on weekends) to pick up the mail from the mailbox at the highway, 3/4 of a mile from the house. The mailboxes look sad and lonely in the snow...
Standing at the mailboxes, looking across the road. Same hill as in the earlier photo, only closer now. The reddish-colored things are some sort of stacked metal objects that sit on the other side of the highway from our mailbox. They've been there ever since we moved in, and I haven't a clue what they are, why they're there or who (if anyone) owns them.
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