Slow Global Warming: Stop Shoveling Snow

Article Type: Opinion

Disclaimer: This article contains a mixture of facts, supported by 3rd party references, and the constructive opinions of the author. These are meant to be done in a thought-provoking and non-confrontational way. If you disagree, that’s okay, just be kind in your responses.

A Quick Thought

This is more of a neat to think about, and likely not practical in reality, but while I was shoveling over 4" of fresh snow last week, it gave me a fun thought. Standing in the cold, my mind wandered to global warming (certainly didn't feel warm to me). Then, I thought: What if we all just left the snow and didn't shovel it? Sounded great to me, and sounded like it could help the Earth do what it does naturally when snow falls: it cools down. Shoveling it all off of man-made concrete surfaces seems like we're just adding a small factor to the huge pool of reasons for global warming.

A Bit of Science

First things first: no matter what anyone tells you, the Earth has gone through billions of years of warm and cool cycles – whether there were humans interfering or not. So no matter what we do today, the Earth will continue to go through those cycles. Our contributions as humans, and the inventions we've littered across the globe, may speed up or slow down those cycles, but will not prevent them.

Second, snow plays a factor in the warming (or cooling) of the planet. Snow is highly reflective. Think of what night looks like when there's new fallen snow versus no snow at all. You've probably noticed that it's much brighter out at night with the snow. That reflection of light does one key thing: it reflects sunlight (and its warmth) back out into space instead of absorbing it into the ground. In fact, without snow cover, the ground absorbs 4 - 6 times more of the sun's energy (1). Snow is just one of Earth's natural ways to control patterns of heating and cooling.

Third, in the United States alone there are roughly 15,000 square miles (2)! For comparison, that means if we gathered all of the concrete roads into 1 location, it would be bigger than the state of Maryland.

Want more science of snow? Visit the National Snow and Ice Data Center to get a lot more!

Fun Thoughts

So . . . What if we waved a wand, passed a law, or all just altogether stopped shoveling snow? What if anytime snow fell we all just relaxed at home and spent quality time with each other and left the snow to do what the Earth intended?

This is where the fun begins.

Phrases like "work-life balance," "work-life harmony," "family time," and many others, make it clear that we are all searching for something beyond just another day at the desk. We are in search of real meaning, connections, and creating lasting memories. In addition, with the rise of social media, staring at our phones, and more digital elements, I believe we're in need of new ways and times to connect with one another, especially our families. If we were to take these snow days and spend them with family, playing games, cuddling by the fire, reading books together, and just having fun, it could provide additional time that won't be soon forgotten by anyone.

Think of all the best times in your childhood and you'll probably be left with one common thread: making connections. In the end, the best of what we remember won't be another five minutes flicking our thumbs to go through social media, or trapped in an office being yelled at by our bosses, but that of us laughing with those we love: parents, children, siblings, and timeless friends.

Beyond the added time indoors, this would also give families precious time to connect with one another through fun (and cold) past times such as building a snowman (or snow-woman), making snow angels, and sledding amongst much more! Getting out of the house and experiencing nature, with all of its seasons, is important for everyone's health. We are humans, mammals, that were never meant to stay cooped up inside. We were meant to explore, to get out, to breathe in fresh air.

All of this would be happening while giving Earth – and all of its precious resources – a chance to revel in the cool.

The Implications

Leaving the snow where it falls comes with a lot of potential complications. Here's just a few:

• Emergency Services – The ability of emergency services (police, fire, medical) to reach people in need would be impacted. This could be overcome with winter gear – snow mobiles, for one.

• Jobs – If we left snow where it fell, that means roads would be covered and many people wouldn't be able to get to their jobs. While that doesn't seem like a bad thing on the surface, this impacts how much money people make. There are already far too many families living paycheck to paycheck for this to be realistic. Getting over this would be a pretty big feat, especially given today's political and economic climate.

• Cabin Fever – In my humble opinion, this is probably not the most pressing concern, but it should still be considered. The mental health of everyone is something that seems to be a growing a problem, and is as real as physical health. Being cooped up at home for potentially multiple days (or longer) due to not removing snow and limiting mobility could present a problem of cabin fever. Finding ways to stay in touch, get out and play, and more would be an important factor here.

What Do You Think?

What are your thoughts about leaving snow where it falls? Share them in the comments!

References

1. National Snow and Ice Data Center: Why Snow Matters

2. How Many Miles of Roads Are In the USA?

3. more...