David Barnaby of Toronto wonders whether the word “whiteout” used for a blizzard that obscures visibility is the correct use of the word?
No, this is not a true whiteout. Real “whiteouts” occur mostly in the Arctic and Antarctic during the spring, when snow is still deep on the ground and there is lots of daylight and surprisingly calm weather and excellent visibility. Polar whiteouts occur when rays of sunlight are bounced in all directions between bright white clouds, especially a thin layer of overcast and bright snow or ice. Clean snow and ice reflects nearly 85% of incoming light. Falling snowflakes, suspended fog droplets or ice particles in the air would make conditions even worse. In a true whiteout, neither shadows, nearby objects, landmarks, nor clouds are discernable. All sense of direction, depth perception and even of balance may be lost. Land and sky seem to blend, and the horizon disappears into a white nothingness. Someone said you feel you are drowning in milk or it’s like being inside a Ping-Pong ball. Whiteouts trick pilots into believing down is up and travellers in thinking far is near and confusing
