2.09.2010

The Chilled Chorus

Have you ever noticed that cold has a sound?
I'm sure this is a fairly common observation, but I really feel like the world sounds very distinctly in the snow.
It almost feels quieter, almost like the sound is muffled.

But it isn't just snow, there's just something about being cold that sounds different.

You notice it in movies, too.
There tend to be a lot less background noises when characters are standing in the snow, than if they were standing in, say, a desert oasis.

Now, by the laws of physics, the speed of sound in air = 331.3 + (0.66 x T) m/s, where T is degrees celsius. So, sound moves slower, but I wouldn't say that that means there would be less of it.

Whether it is sensible or not, what is the purpose for the altered sensual perception during cold? Because, you have to admit, it smells different, things feel different, stuff tastes differently, and it looks differently, as well.
If you think about what, exactly, cold is, that doesn't help much either.
Temperature is literally the rate at which particles in matter vibrate. Everything is naturally vibrating. If they vibrate faster, they are warmer, if they do so slowly, they are colder. This is why you have things like liquids, solids, and gasses.
Technically, when the air is cold, it's even closer to becoming a liquid than when it is warm.

But, still, I wonder, what is the significance of the sound of cold?
I think that a major part of its purpose, from a divine standpoint, is beauty.

Think about it, God created the laws of physics, back in the beginning, Genesis 1, etc.

Naturally, it seems that the generally accepted periods of growth are Spring and Summer, with flowers in bloom, and sparkling water, and freshness. Fall is beautiful because of the changing leaves and the wind.

Winter has the beauty of snow, but there is a beauty in cold itself.
Maybe; just maybe, God made the laws of physics (at least this might be part of the reason) so that when it was cold, the hushed sound of winter added to the atmosphere of serenity that accompanied snow. The sun's light is whiter and reflects off the white of the land, which provides a sharp contrast to the dark of dead trees and barren soil. What people often interpret as an imagery of death may really just be the atmosphere of peace and rest.
Then, add to this the smell of cold, and the silence that accompanies slower moving sound, and you get not just an image, but a mood.

Imagine winter. In Canada.
It's not chaotic. It isn't hustle and bustle. It's calm.
Why is that? Because God catered the laws of physics so that you would understand beauty in all four phases of the state of nature on the planet Earth.

God is the master artist.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think the best thing about it too, especially from a completely modern point of view is that it forces EVERYTHING to slow. Not just how fast particles are moving, or how fast sound can travel, but a really good, heavy snow slows down the pace of our lives. The reason snow days are so incredible is not just because you may not have to go to school or work, but because you can't go anywhere else either. It is one of the most conducive environments for rest. That's what the earth really needs before the growth explosion of Spring... and so often in our lives before we can be crazy productive and worth our salt we need peace and rest.
Thanks for the musing, Brett.

Derek said...

Cold just makes me want to walk faster everywhere I go! haha

But snow is truly an image of beauty. There's a reason why both the Psalmist and Isaiah mention God washing us "white as snow." Snow is the purest white in nature, not only of itself but also as you mention because of the way the light reflects off of it.

Huh... Snow only looks its purest when there's light shining on it from above. There's something to chew on...