They are like sound-waves sent into the teeth of the
wind, only they travel more slowly. Anybody who has
observed a really splashing rain on smooth ground--on a
cement sidewalk, for instance--must have observed that
the rebounding drops, like those that are falling, form
streaks, because they, too, are arranged in vertical
layers--or sheets--of greater and lesser density--or
maybe the term "frequency" would be more appropriate;
and these streaks travel as compared with the wind, and,
as compared with its direction, they travel against it.
It is this that causes the curious criss-cross pattern
of falling and rebounding rain-streaks in heavy showers.
Quite likely there are more competent observers who might
analyze these phenomena better than I can do it; but if
nobody else does, maybe I shall one day make public a
little volume containing observations on our summer rains.
But again I am digressing.
The snow, then, hits the surface of the older layers in
waves, no matter whether the snow is freshly falling or
merely drifting; and it is these waves that you notice
most distinctly. Although they travel with the wind when
you compare their position with points on the ground--yet,
when compared with the rushing air above, it becomes
clear that they travel against it.
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