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December 22, 2004
New Science
Since the big snowstorm was predicted (and that so far hasn't materialized), the local news has been full of reports about the 3 new trucks the city bought for snow removal. The trucks have a tank & sprayer mounted on the back, which sprays the streets with a 23% salt solution before the snow falls....the theory being that this will make the snow easier to remove. Or something like that.
In years past, salt and chat trucks have been used to create traction, but according to Field Operations Supervisor Bryan Hobbs, the city of Fayetteville has purchased three pickup trucks, with water tanks and sprayers in the back, that will pump a 23 percent saltwater solution onto roads before the snow falls. "It’s supposed to rain before it snows, so we have to wait until after it rains to spray the streets, or else the salt will just get washed away," Hobbs said. "When the snow combines with the salt, it creates heat, which melts away ice."
Well I'll be damned. All these years I thought salting your driveway worked because the salt solution lowered the freezing temperature of water. Must be some of that new science they teach in schools nowadays.
I bet if we covered our roof with a thick layer of salt, we wouldn't even need the furnace during the cold spell they're predicting for the next few days.
Assuming it actually snows, of course.
Posted by Rita at December 22, 2004 06:58 AM
Comments
There's just something about spraying water on the road in anticipation of a snow storm (salt or no salt) that just seems...well...wrong.
Posted by: Jim - PRS at December 22, 2004 09:25 AM
Does sound silly, doesn't it? Some of the city officials got the idea from some kind of conference they attended in Canada. If it's what the Canadians do, it should work here eh?
Posted by: rita at December 22, 2004 10:29 AM
Believe it or not, it's true.
Its actually the catalyst that leads to global warming. Salt+H20=Saltwater, and all that saltwater out there is creating massive amounts of warmth that are slowly melting the poles and killing those adorable polar bears we all know and love. . .
Posted by: Foster at December 22, 2004 09:44 PM
But I thought we hated polar bears because they club baby seals to death. Or is it because they drink Coke, not Pepsi?
I think you're onto something with your saltwater theory. After all, it's usually warmer at the beach than it is inland.
Posted by: rita at December 23, 2004 07:39 AM