Canal-U

The Science of Snow, Nautijaur, Lapland , 12 November 2010

Swedish version with english subtitles :  

In Sápmi, a vast region of northern Europe also referred to as Lapland, Sami reindeer herders are experts about snow. To reach the ground lichen on which they feed in winter, reindeer need to dig through a snowpack whose properties constantly change throughout the winter period. For this reason, the Sami have developed a ‘snow science’ that not only encompasses, as linguists have often exclaimed, an exceptional diversity of terms to name and classify snow. They have also cultivated an intimate understanding of physico-chemical processes affecting the snowpack. In this film, a Sami herder digs a hole in the snow to analyze and describe how thermal exchanges have transformed the properties of the snow since the beginning of the season. He explains how an ice layer, which formed over the ground surface, disappeared subsequent to a period of warming to once more render the lichen accessible to grazing reindeer.

Swedish version with french subtitles : 

Science de la neige, Nautijaur, Laponie suédoise, 12 novembre 2010

http://www.canal-u.tv/video/smm/science_de_la_neige_nautijaur_laponie_suedoise_12_novembre_2010.21374

Version suédoise :

Snöns vetenskap, (version suédoise de "Science de la neige, Nautijaur, Laponie suédoise, 12 novembre 2010")

http://www.canal-u.tv/video/smm/snons_vetenskap_version_suedoise_de_science_de_la_neige_nautijaur_laponie_suedoise_12_novembre_2010.21543