A Japanese road sprinkler system, to keep the road clear of snow. This photograph was taken near the town of Tsurugi in Hakusan-shi. This system combines the mechanical action of the water to remove the snow and the > zero temperature of the water to melt the snow. This system can only be used where ground temperatures do not regularly drop below zero, otherwise sheet ice formation could result (although a continuous water flow would act as an impediment to this).