Why does snow sometimes sparkle?

Photo of snow in west Sierra Nevada by Itrovert

Sometimes on a sunny day, freshly fallen snow may appear to sparkle or glitter. This happens because when light hits an object light, it can be absorbed, in which case the object is heated; transmitted, in which case light passes through the object; [...]

Frosty questions: Are some snowflakes identical? How do flakes form, and how does weather affect their shape? How does ice in the atmosphere affect weather and climate? And where does the jet stream fit in this picture?

One fact we know from childhood: every snowflake is unique.
Isn’t it?
UW-Madison’s snowflake expert, meteorology professor Pao Wang, gently delivered the grim news: “Not really. I think the saying is more or less a picturesque way of saying that there are so many varieties of snowflakes, thousands of different kinds.”
Wang studies how snow and ice form [...]

What causes avalanches? Why are they so dangerous, and how can you avoid them without cowering at home?