The man, who was too weak to utter more than a few words, said he had
been inside since 19 December. He may have survived by drinking melted snow.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17088173


is the theory correct, thats its much warmer under deep snow?

In article ,
Stan writes:
The man, who was too weak to utter more than a few words, said
he had been inside since 19 December. He may have survived by
drinking melted snow.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17088173


is the theory correct, thats its much warmer under deep snow?


Yes. A layer of snow is a very good insulator, because there's a lot of
air trapped in it.
--
John Hall
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism
by those who have not got it."
George Bernard Shaw

On Feb 19, 8:20*pm, John Hall wrote:
In article ,

*Stan writes:
The man, who was too weak to utter more than a few words, said
he had been inside since 19 December. He may have survived by
drinking melted snow.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17088173

is the theory correct, thats its much warmer under deep snow?

Yes. A layer of snow is a very good insulator, because there's a lot of
air trapped in it.

It would still be damned cold though. Esquimo used layers of deer hide
as carpeting in a dome shaped hut lit and heated by lanterns burning
animal fat until Hugo Chavez sent them oil supplies to make up for
what BP took away.

I have heard snow is transparent to UV light but the car would radiate
heat into snow on contact. As would any condensate. Eating snow will
lower your temperature, you might drink the melt-water.

He could have been able to move outside locally for a while. The story
doesn't say anything much about him. I doubt he got the sleeping bag
from Poundstretcher. Who knows what he was prepared for?

On 19/02/2012 18:21, Stan wrote:
The man, who was too weak to utter more than a few words, said he had
been inside since 19 December. He may have survived by drinking melted
snow.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17088173


is the theory correct, thats its much warmer under deep snow?

Not sure about theory but whenever I've been snow-holing, both in the UK
and the Alps, the temperature in the snow hole has been around zero to
slightly sub-zero despite it being several degrees below zero "outside".

The roof of the snow holes are usually a metre or two deep so I'm not
sure if you classify that as "deep snow"?

The biggest problem has always been how to keep gear dry as the
atmosphere can get quite damp and humid.

If this guy was living in his car under deep snow, for a month or so, I
would imagine that he had pretty good equipment and was reasonably
competent with survival skills.

If not, he was bloody lucky!!!!

Cheers

Neil