Beetles, springtails, spiders, flies, mice, frogs, weasels and even foxes. All of them can live in the subnivius. What sounds like a parallel universe of The Witcher saga is among us humans, in the coldest parts of the northern hemisphere.
Not everyone knows that between the earth and the snow there is a world full of life.. The subniveous space is a small area that forms there, between a layer of snow and the ground, creating an ecosystem with adequate thermal conditions so that many individuals protect themselves from very low temperatures.
The space is isolated and can remain stable at a temperature of about 0 degrees Celsius for weeks, even if it’s 20 or 30 degrees below zero outside.
How is this space created?
The subnivium is formed by three different types of snow metamorphosis: the destructive (when the snow falls), the constructive (when water vapor “rises” to the surface of the snowpack) and the fusion (water vapor snow refreezing on the top layer, creating something like a roof).
These three types of metamorphoses transform snowflakes into ice crystals, forming spaces under the snow for animals to move about.
For the phenomenon to occur, a layer of snow that is not too dense (if possible, light and soft) must form, about 20 centimeters thick.
a mysterious world
In the subnivium there are small caves and passages of thin ice They serve as a shelter for plants and animals, as they keep out the wind, let in light (which makes room for photosynthesis) and keep the temperature stable.
Animals such as weasels use the subnivium, for example, to stalk their prey and others, such as frogs, to hibernate in fallen leaves caught in the snow. Some, unlike weasels, use it to protect themselves from predators.
Even large animals are found in this mysterious site. In the Arctic, for example, ringed seals have enclosed spaces under the snow and above openings in the ice, and polar bears take refuge in the subnivium to give birth to their young.
While it may seem obvious, snowmobiles and ATVs can collapse these spaces, but not skis.
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.