美國極寒天氣歡樂多：開水潑空中變雪花

What more creative way to take advantage of the coldest temperatures in decades than to conduct some homemade science experiments - including wondering at the marvel of being able to turn boiling hot water into snow.
還有什麼比利用史上最極寒天氣在家做些科學實驗更有創造性呢？比如說把開水潑灑到空中，開水馬上就神奇地變成雪花。

Unfortunately for the less scientifically minded, the experiment has become something of a health hazard if conducted in temperatures that are not quite cold enough.
不幸的是，對於那些不那麼以科學態度思考問題的人來說，如果這項實驗在氣溫不夠低的地方進行，那將意味着冒生命危險。

If the pot of hot water is tossed when the temperature is too high, then instead of a magical snow shower boiling water rains down on those involved.
如果一壺開水在不足以致其結冰的溫度下被潑灑出去，那麼結果將不是幻妙的雪花，而是開水落在實驗者身上。

Numerous people have posted pictures and comments on social media of painful injuries after their experiment has gone horribly wrong.
許多人因實驗時操作不當被燙傷，網民們紛紛在社交媒體上發佈和評論燙傷的照片。

Kailyn Nicole tweeted: 'I tried to throw boiling water in the air and it back the water spilled on me and now my leg is burned. Oops....'
有位叫凱琳·尼科爾的網友發推寫道：“我試圖將開水潑灑到空中，但它落回來了……所有的開水都灑在我身上，現在我的腿被燙傷了。哎喲……”

Hallie Benjamin added: 'So I tried to do the whole throw boiling water outside and it flew back and burned my arm so happy snow day to all.'
另一位叫哈利·本傑明的網友則表示：“告訴大家，我嘗試把整壺熱水灑向室外空中，然後它就灑落回來了。然後我的胳膊就燙傷了，這真是個‘歡樂’的雪天。”

One person who got it right was meteorologist Eric Holthaus. He conducted his experiment on January 6 in Viroqua, Wisconsin where the temperature was a chilly -21F with a wind chill of -51F.
氣象學家埃裏克的操作方法是正確的。他於1月6日在威斯康星州的韋羅奎進行了這項實驗，當時氣溫低達華氏零下21度（約爲-29℃），局部寒風地區低達華氏零下51度（約爲-46℃）。

He threw his pan of hot water high into the air, being careful to make sure it blew away from him, before it turned into a beautiful, crystal cloud.
他在確保水不落回自己身上之後，把一壺開水潑到空中，隨後開水就變成了漂亮如水晶般的雪雲。

Boiling water turns into snow because freezing cold air holds less vapor than warmer air.
冷空氣比暖空氣的水蒸氣含量少，所以開水會變成雪花。

When the hot water is thrown into the cold air, the air gets more water vapor than it can hold, Mark Seeley, a climatologist at the University of Minnesota told LiveScience.氣候學家馬克·西利告訴《生活科學》記者，當開水被潑到冷空氣中時，空氣中所含水蒸氣就會過量。

The water vapor clings to particles, crystallizing into a snow cloud.
水蒸氣粘附在顆粒上，結晶爲雪雲。

Mr Seeley warned not to attempt this unless the temperature had dropped to -30F or below.
西利先生警告大家，如果所在地區氣溫不在華氏零下30度（約爲-34℃）或以下就不要嘗試這一危險實驗。