Question

Why does snow/ice not melt on the mountains during summer?

Answer 1

Snow and ice do not melt suddenly on the mountains during summer because ice has a very high specific latent heat of fusion, which is 336000 J/kg. To convert 1 kg of ice at 0°C into water at 0°C, 336000 J of heat energy must be absorbed without any rise in temperature. Thus, the heat energy from the summer Sun is first used to overcome the intermolecular forces and change the state of ice into water, rather than raising its temperature. Since a large amount of heat is required for melting, snow melts slowly on the mountains, which prevents flash floods and ensures that rivers receive water throughout the year.