How To Make Snow

In Lillehammer, Norway, it's time to make some snow. With science. As well as being one of my regular videos, this is an ad for the 2016 Youth Winter Olympic Games! Subscribe to the Olympic KZbin channel: bit.ly/1MFol69 - and see the rest of this description for more links.
Discover more about the science of Lillehammer 2016: bit.ly/1ORyQEE
Over on the Olympics channel:
The Art of Monobob: bit.ly/1KK4zUp
The Technology of the Biathlon Rifle: bit.ly/1JM6g8I
The World's Largest Underground Cavern: bit.ly/1SnTwX6
BONUS LINKS! If you've come down this far, you can see also my videos for Wednesday and Friday in advance:
The Second Largest Freezer in Norway: • The Second Largest Fre...
and The Biathlon: Firing Guns Under Pressure: • The Biathlon: Firing G...

[@apache1234657]

In this house we obey the laws of thermodynamics

[@Scotch20]

most households do

[@danielawesome36]

@@Scotch20 _*most_

[@tomlangford1999]

I thought the title said 'things you might not snow'

[@HomeofLawboy]

+Tom Langford The title says "How To Make Snow". How could you mistake that.

[@GwresYnKernow]

+Tom Langford You snow nothing, Jon Know.

[@micnor14]

+GwresYnKernow Not funny man I've got severe double-dyslexia so I read that exactly as you wrote it :D

[@armybirds]

Lince Assassino ur gay

[@maruftim]

@@armybirds 4 years ago

[@SkillsWithPhil]

I went to Hafjell for a mountain bike race, and the area was absolutely gorgeous. This was an awesome overview, didn't know about the dry/humid air part.

[@jaredpittsley4966]

Skills With Phil I didn’t know you watched Tom Scott

[@unclesam8862]

nice

[@LimabeanStudios]

As many people have said before this is a great way to handle ads. I also appreciate the little "ad" in the thumbnail so we knew what was coming before clicking on the video.

[@VegasA3]

I think he has to do that since he's a Brit, something about advertisement laws or something in England.

[@Cobalt985]

@@VegasA3 All KZbinrs have to disclose if something's an ad because of their TOS. KZbin isn't a TV broadcasting service.

[@iabervon]

Great ad, but I probably still won't buy an Olympics. They're awfully expensive, and don't really go all that well with my existing infrastructure. Also, it's kind of too late to buy the one they were trying to sell me on. I am in the market for some light rail, though, so if you're thinking of advertizing some of that, you might get a sale. -Boston

[@MRJMXHD]

oh.

[@drabberfrog]

oh.

[@cicckany8540]

oh.

[@George-vv5ok]

Oh

[@timmura]

oh.

[@FreakFizzer]

I like the way the thumbnail says ad. Easy and subtle.

[@NiceKobis]

Props to whoever made the Swedish Subtitiles, I don't need them but left them on to see how good they were and they felt spot on all the way trough. Well done. Also nice video Tom. :)

[@wethecurious]

For the first time ever I find myself wanting to watch another 'ad' - so I went ahead and already checked out the bonus links. This is a prime example of how to balance high-quality content whilst subtly promoting a product. The 'AD' in the thumbnail is classy, and your transparency is hugely appreciated. Other creators and advertisers need to watch this and learn. I genuinely hope this series helps you to convince other channels to let you produce advertorials for them in the future; if the content is always this good, I'm certainly always going to watch them. - Ross

[@cityraildude]

We The Curious the UK has very strict laws about ads in videos

[@Shilag]

If this is what you make of advertorials I don't see why anyone should be put off. Who cares if you're earning a penny if you're actually making interesting content?

[@RudyBleeker]

+Shilag people generally are very quick to judge and call everyone who tries to make quality content that we can enjoy on KZbin for free a "sellout". I hope Tom made more than a penny on this one so he can keep doing what he's been doing.

[@theparkourhobo]

+Shilag I think people were imagining things like "Why the iPhone is better than Android!" or something like that. I was, to an extent. If it were true, it would indeed suck. But Tom Scott is way too good for that :)

[@DayOldMeat]

I think Tom has been shown to have much greater integrity than most KZbinrs. Although, I think this new legislation encourages stuff like this, as opposed to the unannounced shilling that you can see all over.

[@shardshunt]

I want all ads to be like this one.

[@Olympics]

The slopes of Lillehammer are prepared for the Youth Olympic Games. You can find more Olympic science videos made with Tom here: kzbin.info/aero/PL-292yfpAFGYdTEWvXECZX8UwPgO7X3Zz

[@billied2003]

+Olympics ayyyyyy subscribe to my channel mane

[@TheToaMaster]

Make that seven.

[@misaalanshori]

TheToaMaster 8

[@creator-link]

Oh

[@sadface7463]

4 comments from 3-4 years ago and one comment from less than a week

[@hellterminator]

Is this the thing you talked about on park bench recently? The one that will make you more money than a year of patreon? I was a bit worried about what you'd have to do for that kind of money, but if this is it, great job!

[@TomScottGo]

+hellterminator A year's optimistic. While I wouldn't want to talk about exact numbers, the three Olympic videos this week will keep a roof over my head -- and travelling to make new videos -- for... well, let's say "long enough to make it worth it" and leave it at that! :)

[@JorisGriffioen]

+Tom Scott Maybe in the future you can make a video exploring why we are so afraid to talk about money. ;)

[@hellterminator]

Joris Griffioen I guess that depends on where you live. I for example would love to talk about my income, but I have a clause in my contract which prohibits me from talking about it (and under the laws of my country my employer is well within their rights to prohibit me from talking about my salary). I hate it, but that's how it is.

[@rahulnamboodiri6660]

@@hellterminator wow that sucks, that's almost like a way to emancipate you guys from getting equal income or demand better wages. this is almost promoting discrimination in a way because you can't know if you're being underpaid compared to your equals in the same job.

[@janmelsen8215]

The way Tom says Lillehammer sounds like a rapper name Tom: Lil’ Hammer

[@rucdoc]

this is the least ad like ad I've seen. loved it

[@mxskelly]

I didn't even know this was an ad until I saw on my homepage that it said "AD" in the top right of the thumbnail. It's awesome that it didn't feel like an ad, at all. This is just the kind of video I would expect from this channel and it was presented in just the same way others were. Glad you're getting some more back for your awesome videos :D

[@12Sanguine]

Tom, your videos are great. You are doing very important work! Please never forget how much we need you and more creators like you. Keep making these. ♥

[@RICDirector]

"Okay, physics." Everybody ducks. Priceless. :)

[@AkashNayee]

Been a subscriber for a while now, absolutely love your videos, totally unique, interesting and great fun to watch, keep it up Tom!

[@wojtekpolska1013]

When i was skiing on some mountain, they had one of them running in the open, so like if you wanted you could just drive trough it not to say that i did... but it's just snow blown at your face

[@ke7eha]

We use the same thing here in the southern california desert (I live about an hour's drive north from california city) as inexpensive air conditioning, called a swamp cooler. Water is pumped over a pad that air is blown through. The evaporation of water in the low humidity conditions will reduce the temperature from over 110F (44C) to about 85F (30C) using only the about of electricity to run a small blower. It does use quite a bit of water, and only works in very dry places.

[@dontpanic5278]

Tom Scott summed up: Interesting videos about seemingly uninteresting things, full of facts you didn't know about thing you don't really need to know, but still want to know.

[@esaa7256]

Kudos to putting AD in the thumbnail!

[@1116101]

Advertorial = somewhat similar to a sponsored video?

[@TomScottGo]

+Jonas Kern Yep. "Sponsored" generally means the sponsor doesn't have editorial control, just an agreement they'll be mentioned and not slandered. "Ad" means they have full sign-off on the script and edit!

[@1116101]

+Tom Scott Ah, thanks for the info. Great Videos!

[@spitfire83]

+Tom Scott that is an important distinction that i didn't know. good stuff.

[@kicken41]

+Tom Scott That's just the right agreement for your educational channel in my opinion. Good job, Tom! :)

[@SodAlmighty]

@@darthmunck You wouldn't get it twice.

[@katinjegat]

First time ever that a KZbin video had correct subtitles, good Job!

[@Cronuz2]

The sneaky thing is that you actually came to norway without telling me so I could tell you about, and show you around this awesome country! I used to go to hafjell as a kid, it's an awesome playground!

[@ColinRichardson]

Sorry Tom, had to happen eventually, but this time I knew this one, I had some time in Finland inside the Arctic Circle and we had to query why on earth they were making snow.. even though we were standing in more snow fall than England had seen in many years combined

[@TomScottGo]

+Colin Richardson That's why there's always been "might" in the series title :)

[@ColinRichardson]

Yep, I had guessed that very reason.. It's just taken until now for it to happen. :-) keep up the good work.

[@ColinRichardson]

They had that at Finland, though it was not as impressive a "gun" as it was in this video.. They basically had a tube on a trailer and a large container of water. No computer controlled anything.

[@willparkinson]

If only all ads were this cool!

[@chrissscottt]

I suspect the compressed air component of the the mix decompressing as it exits the nozzles would enhance the cooling effect of the evaporation.

[@ReedoTV]

Thank you for disclosing the ad in the thumbnail. Still enjoyed the video as much as other episodes in this series.

[@EmporioZuagroast]

Today I learned that there are some Olympic Games going on in Lillehammer again this year... Youth Olympics, but still Olympics nonetheless.

[@KunamaElgar]

One of the things I love the most about this series of videos is hearing those gorgeous Norwegian accents!! :D

[@andrewwojcik21]

Your videos are so well produced! Great job.

[@JoannaHolman]

If all ads were this interesting, I'd watch a stack more TV. Excellent work

[@KeirBriscoe]

I knew this. I worked for 3 seasons making at snow at Blackcomb and Grouse mountains in BC.

[@lyadmilo]

So... what you're telling me is that this was filmed in above 0 temperatures, and you needed that hat and mitts and heavy coat? Hahahaha, sincerely, a Canadian.

[@bloodalchemy]

it's funny. the videos are always awesome but the first thing I do nowadays is turn on captions. don't need them most of the time but I'm turning them on every time.

Nice cinematography!

[@ctube0]

Excelent RH theory and practice.

[@roggeralves94]

Ok, for some reason I thought you were gonna talk about "Anno Domini" in this video. Now I understand...

[@TheSlimyDog]

Great video and I'm glad it's an advertorial. The more money you make the better videos you can bring us.

[@KayJay01]

Hey Tom, you in Norway again? Come to Tromsø!

[@spoe_]

I know a guy from Tromsø, I play games with him sometimes

[@KayJay01]

EmilianSpo cool!

[@KyllingenGamingKyllingen8]

+*I just comment the title of the video (replies don't count)* kom til Bergen / Come to Bergen

[@KayJay01]

***** I have many times!

[@KyllingenGamingKyllingen8]

Nice

[@KempPlays]

Didn't even realise it was an advert until I read the comments. If you can keep pulling that off then I don't see what could be complained about :)

[@mikiqex]

You can use "Snow factories", which is basically a giant freezer in a shipping container with attached snow guns, to make piles of snow in the middle of July.

[@Thomasio14]

Lilyhammer series is amazing too :P

[@Darfk]

Tom, your videos have increased in quality drastically in recent months.

[@---cy5gh]

Really good quality video, haven't ever been this happy to watch an advert.

[@Wizzerzak]

Production value on this one is top notch Tom!

[@112BALAGE112]

troll lumberjacks at 0:08

[@imfrommanndame]

+112BALAGE112 What? Those are skiers.

[@lucasbune]

+112BALAGE112 That is not trolling, it is very much intentional. Even if it were not, it would be a prank at most, nowhere near trolling.

[@RQLexi]

+LucAs Bune They might have meant that the lumberjacks were literal trolls. We are talking Norway here.

[@lucasbune]

Procyon B. ..but we didn't even see the lumberjacks. Chinny Reckon.

[@YourMJK]

+Oliver I don't see it?

[@robertdavenport1109]

Thanks tom

[@leemurray9330]

Watch Tom's outro here with the sound off and he looks like he's dropping some mad rhymes :) That's a mixtape I'd pony up for.

[@snowyalice]

I grew up in a ski resort and every night I'd go to sleep with the sound of snowmakers working each night. I just want the pure sound of a snowmaker so I can use it as a white noise for sleeping.

[@Zuraneve]

I need one of those machines. It's been a boring and warm winter in Boston. -.-

[@cartersmith6628]

Honestly even if it was just a rain maker I can think of a few people who’d probably appreciate that

[@Jesse-2531]

1:29 XDXD there is a Caveman in the bag

[@NYCTO7]

whoooaaaaa, how many time I've been outside? look at ur video now boy, getting that high quality and sharper image! love it! 1080p60fps pls?

[@ItsBenniiBoii]

Great video ad and still informative. As long as it doesn't turn into the Oreo vids of 2014-15 everything looks good. you should do a video on the history of trademarking in light of the fine bros incident. It would be interesting to see the facts of past incidents without taking side.

[@D34THC10CK]

the production value is on point tom!

[@TheEpicAppleEater01]

This is how advertising should be done. Thanks Mr. Scott :-)

[@Borednesss]

Best advertisement I've watched

[@MrPlasterbrick]

As an ardent skier, I slightly grimaced at you calling that stuff powder. Snowcannons are great for maintaining a reliable (though hard) snowcover on pistes, but one thing they can't do is produce powdersnow; sadly, that is a feat only mother nature can accomplish.

[@erilgaz]

+MrPlasterbrick probably if we put one high enough up, it would produce snow as good as mother nature.

[@MrPlasterbrick]

+Ilgaz Er Doubt it. the reason powder snow is so amazing to ski on is that it's made up of delicate flat snowflakes. These form very slowly, and by the very nature of how a snowcannon works it must create its snow very fast.

[@patrickcampbell4504]

Please explain outside hockey games in the summer.

[@Faraonqa]

I actually though that fake snow was made by some kind of chemical mix and i never looked into it... thanks mom and dad :D

[@TheSpacecraftX]

+Faraonqa Some are. The same stuff inside nappies (diapers if you're american) has a similar effect if you take it out and add water. It stays dry to the touch and looks like snow. movie productions tend to use chemical ones because (as is explained in the video) to do it naturally you need to already have low ambient temperatures.

[@MichaelSteeves]

+TheSpacecraftX When I think of "the stuff inside nappies" I am not thinking of something I want to be playing with. ew! (but the absorbant stuff in an unused one is pretty amazing!)

[@ze_rubenator]

+TheSpacecraftX Movie snow always looks dreadfully fake if you're used to real snow. Mostly because it doesn't melt and make the actors' faces red.

[@U014B]

It is. These guys are synthesizing real snow. :)

[@antivanti]

+Faraonqa That would indeed be fake snow and I guess it exists. But this is indeed making actual snow. This kind of snow usually has a slightly different feel and texture due to the way the snow flakes are formed makes them have different shapes than natural snow flakes but it is indeed real snow.

[@VulcanTrekkie45]

Fun fact: the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics are the first Olympics I remember watching.

[@salmaakhayadmourabit5958]

Didn’t realize this was an ad until I read the comments

[@CharlesTheClumsy]

You worked a lot on the cinematography in this video.

[@InTheBeginningTheUniverseWas]

Make it snow, make it snow, make it snow.

[@AdrianBawn]

Things you might not snow.... ... ill get my coat.

[@tasty_fish]

Still trying to figure out what it was advertising. Snow? Snow machines? Lillehammer? The Olympics?!

[@lindsey607]

Brilliant!!

[@ybra]

I was waiting for Matt to show up and put his face in front of it. Sadly didn't happen.

[@cannedsaladsoup430]

there's a surprising amount of pressure coming out of them, it would hurt a lot putting your face in front of it

[@HayleyJeffs]

Oh you were in Norway again! It would be great if you did an episode of The Park Bench here!

[@bens8603]

Hi Tom, big fan but its not clear this is part of an ad. All I can see is an AD in the thumbnail. can you make it clearer please? love the rest of your work and massive fan of all the stuff you do. Keep up the good work

[@Stjaernljus]

iirc there is other kinds of snow cannons that dont have the limitations of the ones described.

[@ImReadyD151]

this is awesome, great video

[@TheConnor12500]

Very interesting! I'll think about that when I go away next month! Thank you

[@amitsci]

If the air is forced out at high pressure, won't adiabatic expansion result in cooling as well? I would imagine at high enough pressure, the machine should work in a 100% humidity, above zero temp.

[@NotKyleChicago]

I think that the Mentos & soda bubble "explosion" is also related to nucleation sites.

[@AgneO]

You went to Lillehammer and Gjøvik without me knowing about it, NOOO! I could have met you!

[@bobmamipoko]

I love you videos. Very informative.

[@TheTomTomsMusic]

I like this show because it tell me things I generally don't know but oddly enough just before watching this video I mete a guy who makes snow for a living and he told me all about it... huh, I guess I did know this one by chance.

[@McMaKeRs]

These sponsored videos of tom's are awesome!

[@larsiparsii]

I was hoping that you were in Norway after seeing the thumbnail, and luckily, I was correct! ^_^

[@asherjackson4504]

We have these in Melbourne

[@aidan9023]

Can you talk about the app the UCI claims to able to use to scan bikes for mechanical doping a.k.a. a motor in the bike? You would think that they could just make the motor on the bike not give off any signals. The only signals it really has to give off is an electromagnetic value and how could the UCI use ipads to scan for that?

[@kilesengati]

It shouldn't be too cold, too - at least for natural snow.

[@jonathancook4022]

Thanks for producing this - you kinda beat me to the chase. Anyway, either way, my sister is gona get educated later today!!!

[@bulman07]

Top Gear bobsleigh/skeleton vs rally car, anyone? In fact, was it Lillehammer where TG hosted their own Winter Olympics?

[@valerykonovalov5506]

Super video!!!

[@CapriUni]

I thought this was a year for the summer Olympics... Or did we switch back to doing both summer and winter games in the same year, like the good old days(tm)?

[@-VexyRS]

Heeey Norway!

[@zbarba]

When i was young snow used to fall from the sky

[@ze_rubenator]

I thought I recognised that yellow cannon in front of the trees in the thumbnail, it's a common sight in Norway =P

[@olivergeraghty2646]

Production quality on this video was great, I'm guessing it wasn't shot on an iPhone!

[@TheClol7]

I dunno dude, a rain maker sounds pretty cool too.

[@nacoran]

Couldn't you, at least in theory, dehumidify the air going in (and cool it down) before blowing it on the water? It would take a lot more power, I guess.

[@erictaylor5462]

Having been an avid skier for many many years I can tell you that man made snow is NOT powder, in fact it is quite crappy. Better than skiing on rocks, but still, natural snow is much much better.

[@pennykie4796]

Insert @ 1:07 - "That's how sweat works"

[@BookofAeons]

Wow, I always assumed those things had some sort of refrigeration on board. "Things you might've thought you knew, but really didnt."

[@Em0srawk]

Aw, because of the thumbnail I was expecting Audio Description and was curious if that was a new youtube feature :P

[@TomScottGo]

+Atkana Oh, I wish KZbin had that feature! The "ad" is required by the British advertising regulator (and it's the right thing to do), but audio description would be great too. (Although I'm not sure where you'd fit it between all the words...!)

[@owenborg2535]

i thought there was a cold area with a block of ice and a wheel shredding peices of ice out the end