The snow compacts together and settles. Dig into a snowbank late in the winter with a shovel, and you might notice the snow has definite layers, each one representing a different snowstorm. We see the same layering effect when we look at walls of sedimentary rock. Wednesday Grab a handful of snow, pack it tightly together, and you have the ultimate winter weapon. And perhaps a ticket to the principals office.
Sedimentary rock changes into a different form when it undergoes heat, pressure or other forces.
Making a snowball is an example of the metamorphic process, because we're using force to compress the snow tightly in our hands. The outside of the snowball will melt a little bit from the warmth of your hands. Cut open the snowball, and you'll see the fluffy handful of flakes you picked up are now packed tightly together. After snow has been on the ground for a while, it goes through lots of changes. The snowpack may settle or drift from wind or changing temperatures.