What can I do to make my son's snowman survive, using medieval technology?

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What my son likes the most with winter is making a snowman.



What my son hates the most with winter is melting of his snowman.



I really would like to make him happy and make the snowman survive for as long as possible.



By the way, I am a king, with a medieval-level technology. My castle is in a temperate climate - think something like middle of France - quite far from the sea.



I already have caves and catacombs where it's quite cold, but I could build a specific building if needed.



There is no magic or alchemist involved, only snow. There is magic in my universe, but a realistic solution would be better.



What can I do to make my son's snowman survive, using medieval technology?







share|improve this question


















  • 2




    Recommended song to listen while reading / answering this question: "Do you want to build a snowman?" from Frozen :)
    – Pavel Janicek
    Aug 13 at 12:19






  • 26




    Just a thought, the thing he likes the most is building a snowman. By giving him an "everlasting" snowman the joy is then taken away... Sure he never has to suffer again but he will not need or have space to build more than a few. Joy and Suffering are a cycle, one without the other is meaningless...
    – BMS21
    Aug 13 at 12:27






  • 5




    @BMS21 Your answer is logically meaningless. People might notice joy and suffering more if they experience the opposite emotion to compare them to, but joy can exist without suffering, and suffering can exist without joy. The saying that one can't have joy without suffering is just sour grapes, said by humans who live in primitive backwards societies - like Earth in the 21st century for example - filled with suffering, to make their misery seem more endurable.
    – M. A. Golding
    Aug 13 at 20:01







  • 3




    You are probably wise to avoid the alchemical route. The synthesis path for Sodium polyacrylate (artificial snow) does appear to consist of steps and materials that would be readily available to a mediaeval alchemist, but the process involves the creation of things like nitrobenzene which is both extremely volatile and extremely poisonous, and many of the reactions are substantially exothermic and must be carefully controlled lest the explosion remove the alchemist's lab from your castle's tower... Especially if you're making sufficient quantity for a snowman.
    – Perkins
    Aug 14 at 1:23






  • 1




    @BurnsBA With evaporative cooling (in air) you can't reach temperatures below the inlet temperature of your evaporating liquid.
    – Jan Doggen
    Aug 14 at 7:55














up vote
25
down vote

favorite
1












What my son likes the most with winter is making a snowman.



What my son hates the most with winter is melting of his snowman.



I really would like to make him happy and make the snowman survive for as long as possible.



By the way, I am a king, with a medieval-level technology. My castle is in a temperate climate - think something like middle of France - quite far from the sea.



I already have caves and catacombs where it's quite cold, but I could build a specific building if needed.



There is no magic or alchemist involved, only snow. There is magic in my universe, but a realistic solution would be better.



What can I do to make my son's snowman survive, using medieval technology?







share|improve this question


















  • 2




    Recommended song to listen while reading / answering this question: "Do you want to build a snowman?" from Frozen :)
    – Pavel Janicek
    Aug 13 at 12:19






  • 26




    Just a thought, the thing he likes the most is building a snowman. By giving him an "everlasting" snowman the joy is then taken away... Sure he never has to suffer again but he will not need or have space to build more than a few. Joy and Suffering are a cycle, one without the other is meaningless...
    – BMS21
    Aug 13 at 12:27






  • 5




    @BMS21 Your answer is logically meaningless. People might notice joy and suffering more if they experience the opposite emotion to compare them to, but joy can exist without suffering, and suffering can exist without joy. The saying that one can't have joy without suffering is just sour grapes, said by humans who live in primitive backwards societies - like Earth in the 21st century for example - filled with suffering, to make their misery seem more endurable.
    – M. A. Golding
    Aug 13 at 20:01







  • 3




    You are probably wise to avoid the alchemical route. The synthesis path for Sodium polyacrylate (artificial snow) does appear to consist of steps and materials that would be readily available to a mediaeval alchemist, but the process involves the creation of things like nitrobenzene which is both extremely volatile and extremely poisonous, and many of the reactions are substantially exothermic and must be carefully controlled lest the explosion remove the alchemist's lab from your castle's tower... Especially if you're making sufficient quantity for a snowman.
    – Perkins
    Aug 14 at 1:23






  • 1




    @BurnsBA With evaporative cooling (in air) you can't reach temperatures below the inlet temperature of your evaporating liquid.
    – Jan Doggen
    Aug 14 at 7:55












up vote
25
down vote

favorite
1









up vote
25
down vote

favorite
1






1





What my son likes the most with winter is making a snowman.



What my son hates the most with winter is melting of his snowman.



I really would like to make him happy and make the snowman survive for as long as possible.



By the way, I am a king, with a medieval-level technology. My castle is in a temperate climate - think something like middle of France - quite far from the sea.



I already have caves and catacombs where it's quite cold, but I could build a specific building if needed.



There is no magic or alchemist involved, only snow. There is magic in my universe, but a realistic solution would be better.



What can I do to make my son's snowman survive, using medieval technology?







share|improve this question














What my son likes the most with winter is making a snowman.



What my son hates the most with winter is melting of his snowman.



I really would like to make him happy and make the snowman survive for as long as possible.



By the way, I am a king, with a medieval-level technology. My castle is in a temperate climate - think something like middle of France - quite far from the sea.



I already have caves and catacombs where it's quite cold, but I could build a specific building if needed.



There is no magic or alchemist involved, only snow. There is magic in my universe, but a realistic solution would be better.



What can I do to make my son's snowman survive, using medieval technology?









share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Aug 15 at 2:51









kingledion

61.4k20192335




61.4k20192335










asked Aug 13 at 11:07









NotATyrant

1,2113917




1,2113917







  • 2




    Recommended song to listen while reading / answering this question: "Do you want to build a snowman?" from Frozen :)
    – Pavel Janicek
    Aug 13 at 12:19






  • 26




    Just a thought, the thing he likes the most is building a snowman. By giving him an "everlasting" snowman the joy is then taken away... Sure he never has to suffer again but he will not need or have space to build more than a few. Joy and Suffering are a cycle, one without the other is meaningless...
    – BMS21
    Aug 13 at 12:27






  • 5




    @BMS21 Your answer is logically meaningless. People might notice joy and suffering more if they experience the opposite emotion to compare them to, but joy can exist without suffering, and suffering can exist without joy. The saying that one can't have joy without suffering is just sour grapes, said by humans who live in primitive backwards societies - like Earth in the 21st century for example - filled with suffering, to make their misery seem more endurable.
    – M. A. Golding
    Aug 13 at 20:01







  • 3




    You are probably wise to avoid the alchemical route. The synthesis path for Sodium polyacrylate (artificial snow) does appear to consist of steps and materials that would be readily available to a mediaeval alchemist, but the process involves the creation of things like nitrobenzene which is both extremely volatile and extremely poisonous, and many of the reactions are substantially exothermic and must be carefully controlled lest the explosion remove the alchemist's lab from your castle's tower... Especially if you're making sufficient quantity for a snowman.
    – Perkins
    Aug 14 at 1:23






  • 1




    @BurnsBA With evaporative cooling (in air) you can't reach temperatures below the inlet temperature of your evaporating liquid.
    – Jan Doggen
    Aug 14 at 7:55












  • 2




    Recommended song to listen while reading / answering this question: "Do you want to build a snowman?" from Frozen :)
    – Pavel Janicek
    Aug 13 at 12:19






  • 26




    Just a thought, the thing he likes the most is building a snowman. By giving him an "everlasting" snowman the joy is then taken away... Sure he never has to suffer again but he will not need or have space to build more than a few. Joy and Suffering are a cycle, one without the other is meaningless...
    – BMS21
    Aug 13 at 12:27






  • 5




    @BMS21 Your answer is logically meaningless. People might notice joy and suffering more if they experience the opposite emotion to compare them to, but joy can exist without suffering, and suffering can exist without joy. The saying that one can't have joy without suffering is just sour grapes, said by humans who live in primitive backwards societies - like Earth in the 21st century for example - filled with suffering, to make their misery seem more endurable.
    – M. A. Golding
    Aug 13 at 20:01







  • 3




    You are probably wise to avoid the alchemical route. The synthesis path for Sodium polyacrylate (artificial snow) does appear to consist of steps and materials that would be readily available to a mediaeval alchemist, but the process involves the creation of things like nitrobenzene which is both extremely volatile and extremely poisonous, and many of the reactions are substantially exothermic and must be carefully controlled lest the explosion remove the alchemist's lab from your castle's tower... Especially if you're making sufficient quantity for a snowman.
    – Perkins
    Aug 14 at 1:23






  • 1




    @BurnsBA With evaporative cooling (in air) you can't reach temperatures below the inlet temperature of your evaporating liquid.
    – Jan Doggen
    Aug 14 at 7:55







2




2




Recommended song to listen while reading / answering this question: "Do you want to build a snowman?" from Frozen :)
– Pavel Janicek
Aug 13 at 12:19




Recommended song to listen while reading / answering this question: "Do you want to build a snowman?" from Frozen :)
– Pavel Janicek
Aug 13 at 12:19




26




26




Just a thought, the thing he likes the most is building a snowman. By giving him an "everlasting" snowman the joy is then taken away... Sure he never has to suffer again but he will not need or have space to build more than a few. Joy and Suffering are a cycle, one without the other is meaningless...
– BMS21
Aug 13 at 12:27




Just a thought, the thing he likes the most is building a snowman. By giving him an "everlasting" snowman the joy is then taken away... Sure he never has to suffer again but he will not need or have space to build more than a few. Joy and Suffering are a cycle, one without the other is meaningless...
– BMS21
Aug 13 at 12:27




5




5




@BMS21 Your answer is logically meaningless. People might notice joy and suffering more if they experience the opposite emotion to compare them to, but joy can exist without suffering, and suffering can exist without joy. The saying that one can't have joy without suffering is just sour grapes, said by humans who live in primitive backwards societies - like Earth in the 21st century for example - filled with suffering, to make their misery seem more endurable.
– M. A. Golding
Aug 13 at 20:01





@BMS21 Your answer is logically meaningless. People might notice joy and suffering more if they experience the opposite emotion to compare them to, but joy can exist without suffering, and suffering can exist without joy. The saying that one can't have joy without suffering is just sour grapes, said by humans who live in primitive backwards societies - like Earth in the 21st century for example - filled with suffering, to make their misery seem more endurable.
– M. A. Golding
Aug 13 at 20:01





3




3




You are probably wise to avoid the alchemical route. The synthesis path for Sodium polyacrylate (artificial snow) does appear to consist of steps and materials that would be readily available to a mediaeval alchemist, but the process involves the creation of things like nitrobenzene which is both extremely volatile and extremely poisonous, and many of the reactions are substantially exothermic and must be carefully controlled lest the explosion remove the alchemist's lab from your castle's tower... Especially if you're making sufficient quantity for a snowman.
– Perkins
Aug 14 at 1:23




You are probably wise to avoid the alchemical route. The synthesis path for Sodium polyacrylate (artificial snow) does appear to consist of steps and materials that would be readily available to a mediaeval alchemist, but the process involves the creation of things like nitrobenzene which is both extremely volatile and extremely poisonous, and many of the reactions are substantially exothermic and must be carefully controlled lest the explosion remove the alchemist's lab from your castle's tower... Especially if you're making sufficient quantity for a snowman.
– Perkins
Aug 14 at 1:23




1




1




@BurnsBA With evaporative cooling (in air) you can't reach temperatures below the inlet temperature of your evaporating liquid.
– Jan Doggen
Aug 14 at 7:55




@BurnsBA With evaporative cooling (in air) you can't reach temperatures below the inlet temperature of your evaporating liquid.
– Jan Doggen
Aug 14 at 7:55










11 Answers
11






active

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up vote
46
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Use your caves or catacombs to make ice cellars. Their history goes back to 1780 BC.



enter image description hereSource: Early Ice Houses)



Use ice if you can find it, otherwise pack the snow as dense as possible.



See also this question on History SE.



Finally, tell your son to build the snow man inside.






share|improve this answer





























    up vote
    26
    down vote













    Just try this - even if I'm not sure if this answer fits your "no alchemy" point:
    Before building the snowman just mix some sawdust into the snow, the finer the better.
    This will effectively prolong the life of the snowman significantly without the need to build any extra buildings or the like.



    See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pykrete for a sample.



    P.S.: I would love to post any original sources here, but I can't seem to find any on the run which don't just coat the snowman in sawdust, not mixing the snow beforehand. But nevertheless this works just fine and lets your snowman stand in the open up until the sunny May or June.






    share|improve this answer
















    • 7




      So... alchemy didn't always include spoons?
      – NotATyrant
      Aug 13 at 22:32










    • This combined with Jan Doggen's ice cellars would probably work extremely well.
      – David K
      Aug 14 at 14:04

















    up vote
    20
    down vote













    You could convert the water deposit of your main city in an ice cellar.



    They were insulated with sand, straw, sawdust, but the water cisterns even made it colder. Imagine something like this full of water (this was the medieval cistern for a city with 30,000 people)



    enter image description here






    share|improve this answer




















    • What city was this picture from?
      – Elysian Fields
      Aug 15 at 12:28










    • @ElysianFields Lérida (Spain), ~165 km (100 miles) from Barcelona. That cistern is quite beautiful and, being underground, it has an impressive size.
      – Alberto Yagos
      Aug 15 at 13:04

















    up vote
    18
    down vote













    1. Find high enough mountain

    2. Get snowman above snow line

    For the reference, Alps have snow line at around 2,5-3 km..






    share|improve this answer
















    • 1




      Man.. such a simple out-of-the-box solution.
      – pipe
      Aug 14 at 7:55

















    up vote
    16
    down vote













    In the region where I have grown up, they used to harvest snow during winter from nearby mountains and store it in underground rooms insulated with straw.



    Therefore:



    • Build a large underground room, so that it is protected from the day heath.


    • Fill it with snow and straw, add salt for further cooling


    • let your son make the snowman, wearing a good woolen coat


    • give the snowman a woolen coat, too (yes, wool insulates from thermal exchanges in both directions...)






    share|improve this answer





























      up vote
      2
      down vote













      In 400BCE, Persia had special structures that collected water in the winter, turned it into ice, and kept it cold for the entire summer:



      See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakhchāl
      And: http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ach/article/view/13822/12244




      Yakhchāl (Persian: یخچال‎‎ "ice pit"; yakh meaning "ice" and chāl meaning "pit") is an ancient type of evaporative cooler. Above ground, the structure had a domed shape, but had a subterranean storage space; it was often used to store ice, but sometimes was used to store food as well. The subterranean space coupled with the thick heat-resistant construction material insulated the storage space year round. These structures were mainly built and used in Persia. Many that were built hundreds of years ago remain standing.



      By 400 BCE, Persian engineers had mastered the technique of using yakhchāls to create ice in the winter and store it in the summer in the desert. In most yakhchāls, the ice is created by itself during the cold seasons of the year; the water is channeled from the qanat (Iranian aqueduct) to the yakhchāl and it freezes upon resting inside the structure.







      share|improve this answer



























        up vote
        1
        down vote













        Put the snow man in a cooling bath with some salt in it.



        Salts like ammonium chloride lower the melting point of water-ice solutions: "−10 °C can be achieved with a 1 to 2.5 ratio by weight of calcium chloride hexahydrate to ice.".



        That should keep the snow man cool. You would need a natural deposit of that salt (probably a different salt than just sodium chloride). Mining will probably help there, because many million years ago there may have been sea where now is middle of France.



        The knowledge of cooling by adding salt crystals to water would probably be something in the realm of an alchemist, but once somebody (a traveling alchemist) told you, the way to maintain a cooling bath would be rather simple (just keep on adding special salt crystals and change the mixture often).



        Example setup: https://www.thoughtco.com/create-a-safe-endothermic-chemical-reaction-602207



        See also about Frigorific mixtures.






        share|improve this answer


















        • 2




          I think you have misunderstood: this does not keep heat away. It does not create cold.
          – MichaelK
          Aug 14 at 9:36










        • @MichaelK I think I may misunderstand you. How does using a cooling bath with salt in it, having a temperature below zero, not create cold and keeping the heat away? Isn't there thermal convection taking place?
          – Trilarion
          Aug 14 at 11:38










        • You could just as well surround the snowman in a shell of snow with a(n original) temperature of -20°C. The salt makes no difference. The thing here is you have to keep heat away from the snowman, i.e. insulate it from heat. You can do that in two ways: 1) something that block heat from reaching it, i.e. an insulation layer 2) something that soaks heat (i.e.a heat sink) that you can then replace continuously. Your solution does not do that better or worse than anything else.
          – MichaelK
          Aug 14 at 11:45










        • @MichaelK Yes, the salt indeed makes a difference. Dissolving salt crystals is an endothermic reaction, meaning it takes away additional heat and works different from snow because it only needs water. Read for example: thoughtco.com/endothermic-reaction-examples-608179 or en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endothermic_process It really works. Whether it works better or worse probably depends on the technical circumstances.
          – Trilarion
          Aug 14 at 11:49







        • 2




          Ok, I stand corrected. You are talking about mixing ice and salt, which forms a frigorific mixture. The most you can achieve with that is -18°C, which is indeed impressive. But it needs to be ice and salt that you mix. Liquid water and salt will not yield any temperature drop. So: you still need to keep superfluous snow/ice around. What you are doing with the salt is simply to extend the time you can use one batch of snow.
          – MichaelK
          Aug 14 at 12:02

















        up vote
        0
        down vote













        As a bare minimum, you should take a sprayer with water (or just broom/bossom; or even a bucket of water — depending on the snowman's size) and cover the snowman's surface. Of course, it should be relatively cold outside (so that water soon/immediately freezes). This may deform snowman's surface a bit, but probably will make the snowman somewhat more secure against temporary warmings.



        Sorry, if the advice is too obvious.



        Update: Per Nathan Cooper, it might be just a myth/mispractice/rumor that covering a snowman with a layer of ice would strengthen it against warmness. Thermal conductivity of ice is actually higher and albedo of ice is actually lower. Or this procedure (covering a snowman with a layer of ice) may serve some specific goals (like durability of small details against wind), but not the warmness-protection.






        share|improve this answer


















        • 1




          Why? Ice has a higher thermal conductivity and reflects less sunlight as snow. What are the advantages here?
          – Nathan Cooper
          Aug 13 at 14:41










        • @NathanCooper, I don't know what are benefits from theoretical point of view, but I sometimes heard that people do it in practice (through I never did it myself). To say truth, I am now not even sure that it's intended to protect from warm, maybe it was intended to protect small/loose details from wind. Or is it just a mispractice that passes from ears to ears?
          – Sasha
          Aug 13 at 15:23







        • 1




          I actually have no idea. Tone doesn't come across in text, but I'm legitimately curious, because I think I may have heard that advice before as well. I know that you should cover ice blocks with snow, but that's different. I would test it, but I'm short on snowy weather atm.
          – Nathan Cooper
          Aug 13 at 19:25











        • Solid ice is denser? Takes longer to melt? Igloos are made from compacted snow, not ice blocks.
          – can-ned_food
          Aug 13 at 20:13










        • When I was young I was told (perhaps incorrectly) that you do this to igloos -- maybe to make them stronger e.g. harder (assuming e.g. in winter that it's already more than cold enough).
          – ChrisW
          Aug 13 at 20:59

















        up vote
        0
        down vote













        In addition to the cold-room solutions proposed by others, get your son to mix the snow with sawdust as he makes the snowman.



        This will drastically increase the snowman's resistance to temperatures and melting by making a mixture known as Pykrete.



        As an added benefit it's also much more resistant to physical damage, in case any pesky peasants attempt to destroy it.






        share|improve this answer



























          up vote
          0
          down vote













          Step 1.
          Dig a ditch around the snowman. (So the snowman can't run away)



          Step 2.
          Tie a rope around the ditch and pull until the snowman and ground under the snowman moves.



          Step 3.
          Pull the snowman and ground under it to the North or South poll.



          Step 4.
          Take your son there and hope that he won't get lonely with just the snowman to talk to.






          share|improve this answer



























            up vote
            -2
            down vote













            Make a bell-shaped glass container, one for each snowman. Then with the aid of a little magic have a dragon suck all the air out of it in order to create a vacuum. A little more magic is needed to seal it. Then, similarly to interstellar space, thanks to the absence of particles that could transmit heat to the snowman, it should take quite long to melt. Keep it in the shadow, you never know.






            share|improve this answer
















            • 5




              A vacuum makes the problem even worse. A vacuum causes ice to sublimate into vapor. On top of that, the vacuum will not do anything to prevent heating via conduction, through the base, and radiation, through the glass walls. You need construction like a Dewar.
              – user71659
              Aug 13 at 16:22






            • 2




              As the other guy said, you should look at a phase diagram for water. Phase diagrams show the most stable physical forms — solid, liquid, gas — of a chemical at certain measured temperatures and pressures.
              – can-ned_food
              Aug 13 at 20:19










            • Very nice, thanks for the interesting feedback! ;-)
              – Will
              Aug 14 at 6:56










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            11 Answers
            11






            active

            oldest

            votes








            11 Answers
            11






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes








            up vote
            46
            down vote













            Use your caves or catacombs to make ice cellars. Their history goes back to 1780 BC.



            enter image description hereSource: Early Ice Houses)



            Use ice if you can find it, otherwise pack the snow as dense as possible.



            See also this question on History SE.



            Finally, tell your son to build the snow man inside.






            share|improve this answer


























              up vote
              46
              down vote













              Use your caves or catacombs to make ice cellars. Their history goes back to 1780 BC.



              enter image description hereSource: Early Ice Houses)



              Use ice if you can find it, otherwise pack the snow as dense as possible.



              See also this question on History SE.



              Finally, tell your son to build the snow man inside.






              share|improve this answer
























                up vote
                46
                down vote










                up vote
                46
                down vote









                Use your caves or catacombs to make ice cellars. Their history goes back to 1780 BC.



                enter image description hereSource: Early Ice Houses)



                Use ice if you can find it, otherwise pack the snow as dense as possible.



                See also this question on History SE.



                Finally, tell your son to build the snow man inside.






                share|improve this answer














                Use your caves or catacombs to make ice cellars. Their history goes back to 1780 BC.



                enter image description hereSource: Early Ice Houses)



                Use ice if you can find it, otherwise pack the snow as dense as possible.



                See also this question on History SE.



                Finally, tell your son to build the snow man inside.







                share|improve this answer














                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer








                edited Aug 14 at 8:37

























                answered Aug 13 at 11:16









                Jan Doggen

                1,023818




                1,023818




















                    up vote
                    26
                    down vote













                    Just try this - even if I'm not sure if this answer fits your "no alchemy" point:
                    Before building the snowman just mix some sawdust into the snow, the finer the better.
                    This will effectively prolong the life of the snowman significantly without the need to build any extra buildings or the like.



                    See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pykrete for a sample.



                    P.S.: I would love to post any original sources here, but I can't seem to find any on the run which don't just coat the snowman in sawdust, not mixing the snow beforehand. But nevertheless this works just fine and lets your snowman stand in the open up until the sunny May or June.






                    share|improve this answer
















                    • 7




                      So... alchemy didn't always include spoons?
                      – NotATyrant
                      Aug 13 at 22:32










                    • This combined with Jan Doggen's ice cellars would probably work extremely well.
                      – David K
                      Aug 14 at 14:04














                    up vote
                    26
                    down vote













                    Just try this - even if I'm not sure if this answer fits your "no alchemy" point:
                    Before building the snowman just mix some sawdust into the snow, the finer the better.
                    This will effectively prolong the life of the snowman significantly without the need to build any extra buildings or the like.



                    See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pykrete for a sample.



                    P.S.: I would love to post any original sources here, but I can't seem to find any on the run which don't just coat the snowman in sawdust, not mixing the snow beforehand. But nevertheless this works just fine and lets your snowman stand in the open up until the sunny May or June.






                    share|improve this answer
















                    • 7




                      So... alchemy didn't always include spoons?
                      – NotATyrant
                      Aug 13 at 22:32










                    • This combined with Jan Doggen's ice cellars would probably work extremely well.
                      – David K
                      Aug 14 at 14:04












                    up vote
                    26
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    26
                    down vote









                    Just try this - even if I'm not sure if this answer fits your "no alchemy" point:
                    Before building the snowman just mix some sawdust into the snow, the finer the better.
                    This will effectively prolong the life of the snowman significantly without the need to build any extra buildings or the like.



                    See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pykrete for a sample.



                    P.S.: I would love to post any original sources here, but I can't seem to find any on the run which don't just coat the snowman in sawdust, not mixing the snow beforehand. But nevertheless this works just fine and lets your snowman stand in the open up until the sunny May or June.






                    share|improve this answer












                    Just try this - even if I'm not sure if this answer fits your "no alchemy" point:
                    Before building the snowman just mix some sawdust into the snow, the finer the better.
                    This will effectively prolong the life of the snowman significantly without the need to build any extra buildings or the like.



                    See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pykrete for a sample.



                    P.S.: I would love to post any original sources here, but I can't seem to find any on the run which don't just coat the snowman in sawdust, not mixing the snow beforehand. But nevertheless this works just fine and lets your snowman stand in the open up until the sunny May or June.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered Aug 13 at 13:16









                    user8763950

                    36112




                    36112







                    • 7




                      So... alchemy didn't always include spoons?
                      – NotATyrant
                      Aug 13 at 22:32










                    • This combined with Jan Doggen's ice cellars would probably work extremely well.
                      – David K
                      Aug 14 at 14:04












                    • 7




                      So... alchemy didn't always include spoons?
                      – NotATyrant
                      Aug 13 at 22:32










                    • This combined with Jan Doggen's ice cellars would probably work extremely well.
                      – David K
                      Aug 14 at 14:04







                    7




                    7




                    So... alchemy didn't always include spoons?
                    – NotATyrant
                    Aug 13 at 22:32




                    So... alchemy didn't always include spoons?
                    – NotATyrant
                    Aug 13 at 22:32












                    This combined with Jan Doggen's ice cellars would probably work extremely well.
                    – David K
                    Aug 14 at 14:04




                    This combined with Jan Doggen's ice cellars would probably work extremely well.
                    – David K
                    Aug 14 at 14:04










                    up vote
                    20
                    down vote













                    You could convert the water deposit of your main city in an ice cellar.



                    They were insulated with sand, straw, sawdust, but the water cisterns even made it colder. Imagine something like this full of water (this was the medieval cistern for a city with 30,000 people)



                    enter image description here






                    share|improve this answer




















                    • What city was this picture from?
                      – Elysian Fields
                      Aug 15 at 12:28










                    • @ElysianFields Lérida (Spain), ~165 km (100 miles) from Barcelona. That cistern is quite beautiful and, being underground, it has an impressive size.
                      – Alberto Yagos
                      Aug 15 at 13:04














                    up vote
                    20
                    down vote













                    You could convert the water deposit of your main city in an ice cellar.



                    They were insulated with sand, straw, sawdust, but the water cisterns even made it colder. Imagine something like this full of water (this was the medieval cistern for a city with 30,000 people)



                    enter image description here






                    share|improve this answer




















                    • What city was this picture from?
                      – Elysian Fields
                      Aug 15 at 12:28










                    • @ElysianFields Lérida (Spain), ~165 km (100 miles) from Barcelona. That cistern is quite beautiful and, being underground, it has an impressive size.
                      – Alberto Yagos
                      Aug 15 at 13:04












                    up vote
                    20
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    20
                    down vote









                    You could convert the water deposit of your main city in an ice cellar.



                    They were insulated with sand, straw, sawdust, but the water cisterns even made it colder. Imagine something like this full of water (this was the medieval cistern for a city with 30,000 people)



                    enter image description here






                    share|improve this answer












                    You could convert the water deposit of your main city in an ice cellar.



                    They were insulated with sand, straw, sawdust, but the water cisterns even made it colder. Imagine something like this full of water (this was the medieval cistern for a city with 30,000 people)



                    enter image description here







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered Aug 13 at 11:20









                    Alberto Yagos

                    4,231826




                    4,231826











                    • What city was this picture from?
                      – Elysian Fields
                      Aug 15 at 12:28










                    • @ElysianFields Lérida (Spain), ~165 km (100 miles) from Barcelona. That cistern is quite beautiful and, being underground, it has an impressive size.
                      – Alberto Yagos
                      Aug 15 at 13:04
















                    • What city was this picture from?
                      – Elysian Fields
                      Aug 15 at 12:28










                    • @ElysianFields Lérida (Spain), ~165 km (100 miles) from Barcelona. That cistern is quite beautiful and, being underground, it has an impressive size.
                      – Alberto Yagos
                      Aug 15 at 13:04















                    What city was this picture from?
                    – Elysian Fields
                    Aug 15 at 12:28




                    What city was this picture from?
                    – Elysian Fields
                    Aug 15 at 12:28












                    @ElysianFields Lérida (Spain), ~165 km (100 miles) from Barcelona. That cistern is quite beautiful and, being underground, it has an impressive size.
                    – Alberto Yagos
                    Aug 15 at 13:04




                    @ElysianFields Lérida (Spain), ~165 km (100 miles) from Barcelona. That cistern is quite beautiful and, being underground, it has an impressive size.
                    – Alberto Yagos
                    Aug 15 at 13:04










                    up vote
                    18
                    down vote













                    1. Find high enough mountain

                    2. Get snowman above snow line

                    For the reference, Alps have snow line at around 2,5-3 km..






                    share|improve this answer
















                    • 1




                      Man.. such a simple out-of-the-box solution.
                      – pipe
                      Aug 14 at 7:55














                    up vote
                    18
                    down vote













                    1. Find high enough mountain

                    2. Get snowman above snow line

                    For the reference, Alps have snow line at around 2,5-3 km..






                    share|improve this answer
















                    • 1




                      Man.. such a simple out-of-the-box solution.
                      – pipe
                      Aug 14 at 7:55












                    up vote
                    18
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    18
                    down vote









                    1. Find high enough mountain

                    2. Get snowman above snow line

                    For the reference, Alps have snow line at around 2,5-3 km..






                    share|improve this answer












                    1. Find high enough mountain

                    2. Get snowman above snow line

                    For the reference, Alps have snow line at around 2,5-3 km..







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered Aug 13 at 15:38









                    Deo

                    34018




                    34018







                    • 1




                      Man.. such a simple out-of-the-box solution.
                      – pipe
                      Aug 14 at 7:55












                    • 1




                      Man.. such a simple out-of-the-box solution.
                      – pipe
                      Aug 14 at 7:55







                    1




                    1




                    Man.. such a simple out-of-the-box solution.
                    – pipe
                    Aug 14 at 7:55




                    Man.. such a simple out-of-the-box solution.
                    – pipe
                    Aug 14 at 7:55










                    up vote
                    16
                    down vote













                    In the region where I have grown up, they used to harvest snow during winter from nearby mountains and store it in underground rooms insulated with straw.



                    Therefore:



                    • Build a large underground room, so that it is protected from the day heath.


                    • Fill it with snow and straw, add salt for further cooling


                    • let your son make the snowman, wearing a good woolen coat


                    • give the snowman a woolen coat, too (yes, wool insulates from thermal exchanges in both directions...)






                    share|improve this answer


























                      up vote
                      16
                      down vote













                      In the region where I have grown up, they used to harvest snow during winter from nearby mountains and store it in underground rooms insulated with straw.



                      Therefore:



                      • Build a large underground room, so that it is protected from the day heath.


                      • Fill it with snow and straw, add salt for further cooling


                      • let your son make the snowman, wearing a good woolen coat


                      • give the snowman a woolen coat, too (yes, wool insulates from thermal exchanges in both directions...)






                      share|improve this answer
























                        up vote
                        16
                        down vote










                        up vote
                        16
                        down vote









                        In the region where I have grown up, they used to harvest snow during winter from nearby mountains and store it in underground rooms insulated with straw.



                        Therefore:



                        • Build a large underground room, so that it is protected from the day heath.


                        • Fill it with snow and straw, add salt for further cooling


                        • let your son make the snowman, wearing a good woolen coat


                        • give the snowman a woolen coat, too (yes, wool insulates from thermal exchanges in both directions...)






                        share|improve this answer














                        In the region where I have grown up, they used to harvest snow during winter from nearby mountains and store it in underground rooms insulated with straw.



                        Therefore:



                        • Build a large underground room, so that it is protected from the day heath.


                        • Fill it with snow and straw, add salt for further cooling


                        • let your son make the snowman, wearing a good woolen coat


                        • give the snowman a woolen coat, too (yes, wool insulates from thermal exchanges in both directions...)







                        share|improve this answer














                        share|improve this answer



                        share|improve this answer








                        edited Aug 13 at 11:23

























                        answered Aug 13 at 11:17









                        L.Dutch♦

                        59.3k15138279




                        59.3k15138279




















                            up vote
                            2
                            down vote













                            In 400BCE, Persia had special structures that collected water in the winter, turned it into ice, and kept it cold for the entire summer:



                            See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakhchāl
                            And: http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ach/article/view/13822/12244




                            Yakhchāl (Persian: یخچال‎‎ "ice pit"; yakh meaning "ice" and chāl meaning "pit") is an ancient type of evaporative cooler. Above ground, the structure had a domed shape, but had a subterranean storage space; it was often used to store ice, but sometimes was used to store food as well. The subterranean space coupled with the thick heat-resistant construction material insulated the storage space year round. These structures were mainly built and used in Persia. Many that were built hundreds of years ago remain standing.



                            By 400 BCE, Persian engineers had mastered the technique of using yakhchāls to create ice in the winter and store it in the summer in the desert. In most yakhchāls, the ice is created by itself during the cold seasons of the year; the water is channeled from the qanat (Iranian aqueduct) to the yakhchāl and it freezes upon resting inside the structure.







                            share|improve this answer
























                              up vote
                              2
                              down vote













                              In 400BCE, Persia had special structures that collected water in the winter, turned it into ice, and kept it cold for the entire summer:



                              See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakhchāl
                              And: http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ach/article/view/13822/12244




                              Yakhchāl (Persian: یخچال‎‎ "ice pit"; yakh meaning "ice" and chāl meaning "pit") is an ancient type of evaporative cooler. Above ground, the structure had a domed shape, but had a subterranean storage space; it was often used to store ice, but sometimes was used to store food as well. The subterranean space coupled with the thick heat-resistant construction material insulated the storage space year round. These structures were mainly built and used in Persia. Many that were built hundreds of years ago remain standing.



                              By 400 BCE, Persian engineers had mastered the technique of using yakhchāls to create ice in the winter and store it in the summer in the desert. In most yakhchāls, the ice is created by itself during the cold seasons of the year; the water is channeled from the qanat (Iranian aqueduct) to the yakhchāl and it freezes upon resting inside the structure.







                              share|improve this answer






















                                up vote
                                2
                                down vote










                                up vote
                                2
                                down vote









                                In 400BCE, Persia had special structures that collected water in the winter, turned it into ice, and kept it cold for the entire summer:



                                See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakhchāl
                                And: http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ach/article/view/13822/12244




                                Yakhchāl (Persian: یخچال‎‎ "ice pit"; yakh meaning "ice" and chāl meaning "pit") is an ancient type of evaporative cooler. Above ground, the structure had a domed shape, but had a subterranean storage space; it was often used to store ice, but sometimes was used to store food as well. The subterranean space coupled with the thick heat-resistant construction material insulated the storage space year round. These structures were mainly built and used in Persia. Many that were built hundreds of years ago remain standing.



                                By 400 BCE, Persian engineers had mastered the technique of using yakhchāls to create ice in the winter and store it in the summer in the desert. In most yakhchāls, the ice is created by itself during the cold seasons of the year; the water is channeled from the qanat (Iranian aqueduct) to the yakhchāl and it freezes upon resting inside the structure.







                                share|improve this answer












                                In 400BCE, Persia had special structures that collected water in the winter, turned it into ice, and kept it cold for the entire summer:



                                See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakhchāl
                                And: http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ach/article/view/13822/12244




                                Yakhchāl (Persian: یخچال‎‎ "ice pit"; yakh meaning "ice" and chāl meaning "pit") is an ancient type of evaporative cooler. Above ground, the structure had a domed shape, but had a subterranean storage space; it was often used to store ice, but sometimes was used to store food as well. The subterranean space coupled with the thick heat-resistant construction material insulated the storage space year round. These structures were mainly built and used in Persia. Many that were built hundreds of years ago remain standing.



                                By 400 BCE, Persian engineers had mastered the technique of using yakhchāls to create ice in the winter and store it in the summer in the desert. In most yakhchāls, the ice is created by itself during the cold seasons of the year; the water is channeled from the qanat (Iranian aqueduct) to the yakhchāl and it freezes upon resting inside the structure.








                                share|improve this answer












                                share|improve this answer



                                share|improve this answer










                                answered Aug 14 at 16:16









                                Aaron Harun

                                50135




                                50135




















                                    up vote
                                    1
                                    down vote













                                    Put the snow man in a cooling bath with some salt in it.



                                    Salts like ammonium chloride lower the melting point of water-ice solutions: "−10 °C can be achieved with a 1 to 2.5 ratio by weight of calcium chloride hexahydrate to ice.".



                                    That should keep the snow man cool. You would need a natural deposit of that salt (probably a different salt than just sodium chloride). Mining will probably help there, because many million years ago there may have been sea where now is middle of France.



                                    The knowledge of cooling by adding salt crystals to water would probably be something in the realm of an alchemist, but once somebody (a traveling alchemist) told you, the way to maintain a cooling bath would be rather simple (just keep on adding special salt crystals and change the mixture often).



                                    Example setup: https://www.thoughtco.com/create-a-safe-endothermic-chemical-reaction-602207



                                    See also about Frigorific mixtures.






                                    share|improve this answer


















                                    • 2




                                      I think you have misunderstood: this does not keep heat away. It does not create cold.
                                      – MichaelK
                                      Aug 14 at 9:36










                                    • @MichaelK I think I may misunderstand you. How does using a cooling bath with salt in it, having a temperature below zero, not create cold and keeping the heat away? Isn't there thermal convection taking place?
                                      – Trilarion
                                      Aug 14 at 11:38










                                    • You could just as well surround the snowman in a shell of snow with a(n original) temperature of -20°C. The salt makes no difference. The thing here is you have to keep heat away from the snowman, i.e. insulate it from heat. You can do that in two ways: 1) something that block heat from reaching it, i.e. an insulation layer 2) something that soaks heat (i.e.a heat sink) that you can then replace continuously. Your solution does not do that better or worse than anything else.
                                      – MichaelK
                                      Aug 14 at 11:45










                                    • @MichaelK Yes, the salt indeed makes a difference. Dissolving salt crystals is an endothermic reaction, meaning it takes away additional heat and works different from snow because it only needs water. Read for example: thoughtco.com/endothermic-reaction-examples-608179 or en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endothermic_process It really works. Whether it works better or worse probably depends on the technical circumstances.
                                      – Trilarion
                                      Aug 14 at 11:49







                                    • 2




                                      Ok, I stand corrected. You are talking about mixing ice and salt, which forms a frigorific mixture. The most you can achieve with that is -18°C, which is indeed impressive. But it needs to be ice and salt that you mix. Liquid water and salt will not yield any temperature drop. So: you still need to keep superfluous snow/ice around. What you are doing with the salt is simply to extend the time you can use one batch of snow.
                                      – MichaelK
                                      Aug 14 at 12:02














                                    up vote
                                    1
                                    down vote













                                    Put the snow man in a cooling bath with some salt in it.



                                    Salts like ammonium chloride lower the melting point of water-ice solutions: "−10 °C can be achieved with a 1 to 2.5 ratio by weight of calcium chloride hexahydrate to ice.".



                                    That should keep the snow man cool. You would need a natural deposit of that salt (probably a different salt than just sodium chloride). Mining will probably help there, because many million years ago there may have been sea where now is middle of France.



                                    The knowledge of cooling by adding salt crystals to water would probably be something in the realm of an alchemist, but once somebody (a traveling alchemist) told you, the way to maintain a cooling bath would be rather simple (just keep on adding special salt crystals and change the mixture often).



                                    Example setup: https://www.thoughtco.com/create-a-safe-endothermic-chemical-reaction-602207



                                    See also about Frigorific mixtures.






                                    share|improve this answer


















                                    • 2




                                      I think you have misunderstood: this does not keep heat away. It does not create cold.
                                      – MichaelK
                                      Aug 14 at 9:36










                                    • @MichaelK I think I may misunderstand you. How does using a cooling bath with salt in it, having a temperature below zero, not create cold and keeping the heat away? Isn't there thermal convection taking place?
                                      – Trilarion
                                      Aug 14 at 11:38










                                    • You could just as well surround the snowman in a shell of snow with a(n original) temperature of -20°C. The salt makes no difference. The thing here is you have to keep heat away from the snowman, i.e. insulate it from heat. You can do that in two ways: 1) something that block heat from reaching it, i.e. an insulation layer 2) something that soaks heat (i.e.a heat sink) that you can then replace continuously. Your solution does not do that better or worse than anything else.
                                      – MichaelK
                                      Aug 14 at 11:45










                                    • @MichaelK Yes, the salt indeed makes a difference. Dissolving salt crystals is an endothermic reaction, meaning it takes away additional heat and works different from snow because it only needs water. Read for example: thoughtco.com/endothermic-reaction-examples-608179 or en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endothermic_process It really works. Whether it works better or worse probably depends on the technical circumstances.
                                      – Trilarion
                                      Aug 14 at 11:49







                                    • 2




                                      Ok, I stand corrected. You are talking about mixing ice and salt, which forms a frigorific mixture. The most you can achieve with that is -18°C, which is indeed impressive. But it needs to be ice and salt that you mix. Liquid water and salt will not yield any temperature drop. So: you still need to keep superfluous snow/ice around. What you are doing with the salt is simply to extend the time you can use one batch of snow.
                                      – MichaelK
                                      Aug 14 at 12:02












                                    up vote
                                    1
                                    down vote










                                    up vote
                                    1
                                    down vote









                                    Put the snow man in a cooling bath with some salt in it.



                                    Salts like ammonium chloride lower the melting point of water-ice solutions: "−10 °C can be achieved with a 1 to 2.5 ratio by weight of calcium chloride hexahydrate to ice.".



                                    That should keep the snow man cool. You would need a natural deposit of that salt (probably a different salt than just sodium chloride). Mining will probably help there, because many million years ago there may have been sea where now is middle of France.



                                    The knowledge of cooling by adding salt crystals to water would probably be something in the realm of an alchemist, but once somebody (a traveling alchemist) told you, the way to maintain a cooling bath would be rather simple (just keep on adding special salt crystals and change the mixture often).



                                    Example setup: https://www.thoughtco.com/create-a-safe-endothermic-chemical-reaction-602207



                                    See also about Frigorific mixtures.






                                    share|improve this answer














                                    Put the snow man in a cooling bath with some salt in it.



                                    Salts like ammonium chloride lower the melting point of water-ice solutions: "−10 °C can be achieved with a 1 to 2.5 ratio by weight of calcium chloride hexahydrate to ice.".



                                    That should keep the snow man cool. You would need a natural deposit of that salt (probably a different salt than just sodium chloride). Mining will probably help there, because many million years ago there may have been sea where now is middle of France.



                                    The knowledge of cooling by adding salt crystals to water would probably be something in the realm of an alchemist, but once somebody (a traveling alchemist) told you, the way to maintain a cooling bath would be rather simple (just keep on adding special salt crystals and change the mixture often).



                                    Example setup: https://www.thoughtco.com/create-a-safe-endothermic-chemical-reaction-602207



                                    See also about Frigorific mixtures.







                                    share|improve this answer














                                    share|improve this answer



                                    share|improve this answer








                                    edited Aug 15 at 14:14

























                                    answered Aug 13 at 14:54









                                    Trilarion

                                    45058




                                    45058







                                    • 2




                                      I think you have misunderstood: this does not keep heat away. It does not create cold.
                                      – MichaelK
                                      Aug 14 at 9:36










                                    • @MichaelK I think I may misunderstand you. How does using a cooling bath with salt in it, having a temperature below zero, not create cold and keeping the heat away? Isn't there thermal convection taking place?
                                      – Trilarion
                                      Aug 14 at 11:38










                                    • You could just as well surround the snowman in a shell of snow with a(n original) temperature of -20°C. The salt makes no difference. The thing here is you have to keep heat away from the snowman, i.e. insulate it from heat. You can do that in two ways: 1) something that block heat from reaching it, i.e. an insulation layer 2) something that soaks heat (i.e.a heat sink) that you can then replace continuously. Your solution does not do that better or worse than anything else.
                                      – MichaelK
                                      Aug 14 at 11:45










                                    • @MichaelK Yes, the salt indeed makes a difference. Dissolving salt crystals is an endothermic reaction, meaning it takes away additional heat and works different from snow because it only needs water. Read for example: thoughtco.com/endothermic-reaction-examples-608179 or en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endothermic_process It really works. Whether it works better or worse probably depends on the technical circumstances.
                                      – Trilarion
                                      Aug 14 at 11:49







                                    • 2




                                      Ok, I stand corrected. You are talking about mixing ice and salt, which forms a frigorific mixture. The most you can achieve with that is -18°C, which is indeed impressive. But it needs to be ice and salt that you mix. Liquid water and salt will not yield any temperature drop. So: you still need to keep superfluous snow/ice around. What you are doing with the salt is simply to extend the time you can use one batch of snow.
                                      – MichaelK
                                      Aug 14 at 12:02












                                    • 2




                                      I think you have misunderstood: this does not keep heat away. It does not create cold.
                                      – MichaelK
                                      Aug 14 at 9:36










                                    • @MichaelK I think I may misunderstand you. How does using a cooling bath with salt in it, having a temperature below zero, not create cold and keeping the heat away? Isn't there thermal convection taking place?
                                      – Trilarion
                                      Aug 14 at 11:38










                                    • You could just as well surround the snowman in a shell of snow with a(n original) temperature of -20°C. The salt makes no difference. The thing here is you have to keep heat away from the snowman, i.e. insulate it from heat. You can do that in two ways: 1) something that block heat from reaching it, i.e. an insulation layer 2) something that soaks heat (i.e.a heat sink) that you can then replace continuously. Your solution does not do that better or worse than anything else.
                                      – MichaelK
                                      Aug 14 at 11:45










                                    • @MichaelK Yes, the salt indeed makes a difference. Dissolving salt crystals is an endothermic reaction, meaning it takes away additional heat and works different from snow because it only needs water. Read for example: thoughtco.com/endothermic-reaction-examples-608179 or en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endothermic_process It really works. Whether it works better or worse probably depends on the technical circumstances.
                                      – Trilarion
                                      Aug 14 at 11:49







                                    • 2




                                      Ok, I stand corrected. You are talking about mixing ice and salt, which forms a frigorific mixture. The most you can achieve with that is -18°C, which is indeed impressive. But it needs to be ice and salt that you mix. Liquid water and salt will not yield any temperature drop. So: you still need to keep superfluous snow/ice around. What you are doing with the salt is simply to extend the time you can use one batch of snow.
                                      – MichaelK
                                      Aug 14 at 12:02







                                    2




                                    2




                                    I think you have misunderstood: this does not keep heat away. It does not create cold.
                                    – MichaelK
                                    Aug 14 at 9:36




                                    I think you have misunderstood: this does not keep heat away. It does not create cold.
                                    – MichaelK
                                    Aug 14 at 9:36












                                    @MichaelK I think I may misunderstand you. How does using a cooling bath with salt in it, having a temperature below zero, not create cold and keeping the heat away? Isn't there thermal convection taking place?
                                    – Trilarion
                                    Aug 14 at 11:38




                                    @MichaelK I think I may misunderstand you. How does using a cooling bath with salt in it, having a temperature below zero, not create cold and keeping the heat away? Isn't there thermal convection taking place?
                                    – Trilarion
                                    Aug 14 at 11:38












                                    You could just as well surround the snowman in a shell of snow with a(n original) temperature of -20°C. The salt makes no difference. The thing here is you have to keep heat away from the snowman, i.e. insulate it from heat. You can do that in two ways: 1) something that block heat from reaching it, i.e. an insulation layer 2) something that soaks heat (i.e.a heat sink) that you can then replace continuously. Your solution does not do that better or worse than anything else.
                                    – MichaelK
                                    Aug 14 at 11:45




                                    You could just as well surround the snowman in a shell of snow with a(n original) temperature of -20°C. The salt makes no difference. The thing here is you have to keep heat away from the snowman, i.e. insulate it from heat. You can do that in two ways: 1) something that block heat from reaching it, i.e. an insulation layer 2) something that soaks heat (i.e.a heat sink) that you can then replace continuously. Your solution does not do that better or worse than anything else.
                                    – MichaelK
                                    Aug 14 at 11:45












                                    @MichaelK Yes, the salt indeed makes a difference. Dissolving salt crystals is an endothermic reaction, meaning it takes away additional heat and works different from snow because it only needs water. Read for example: thoughtco.com/endothermic-reaction-examples-608179 or en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endothermic_process It really works. Whether it works better or worse probably depends on the technical circumstances.
                                    – Trilarion
                                    Aug 14 at 11:49





                                    @MichaelK Yes, the salt indeed makes a difference. Dissolving salt crystals is an endothermic reaction, meaning it takes away additional heat and works different from snow because it only needs water. Read for example: thoughtco.com/endothermic-reaction-examples-608179 or en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endothermic_process It really works. Whether it works better or worse probably depends on the technical circumstances.
                                    – Trilarion
                                    Aug 14 at 11:49





                                    2




                                    2




                                    Ok, I stand corrected. You are talking about mixing ice and salt, which forms a frigorific mixture. The most you can achieve with that is -18°C, which is indeed impressive. But it needs to be ice and salt that you mix. Liquid water and salt will not yield any temperature drop. So: you still need to keep superfluous snow/ice around. What you are doing with the salt is simply to extend the time you can use one batch of snow.
                                    – MichaelK
                                    Aug 14 at 12:02




                                    Ok, I stand corrected. You are talking about mixing ice and salt, which forms a frigorific mixture. The most you can achieve with that is -18°C, which is indeed impressive. But it needs to be ice and salt that you mix. Liquid water and salt will not yield any temperature drop. So: you still need to keep superfluous snow/ice around. What you are doing with the salt is simply to extend the time you can use one batch of snow.
                                    – MichaelK
                                    Aug 14 at 12:02










                                    up vote
                                    0
                                    down vote













                                    As a bare minimum, you should take a sprayer with water (or just broom/bossom; or even a bucket of water — depending on the snowman's size) and cover the snowman's surface. Of course, it should be relatively cold outside (so that water soon/immediately freezes). This may deform snowman's surface a bit, but probably will make the snowman somewhat more secure against temporary warmings.



                                    Sorry, if the advice is too obvious.



                                    Update: Per Nathan Cooper, it might be just a myth/mispractice/rumor that covering a snowman with a layer of ice would strengthen it against warmness. Thermal conductivity of ice is actually higher and albedo of ice is actually lower. Or this procedure (covering a snowman with a layer of ice) may serve some specific goals (like durability of small details against wind), but not the warmness-protection.






                                    share|improve this answer


















                                    • 1




                                      Why? Ice has a higher thermal conductivity and reflects less sunlight as snow. What are the advantages here?
                                      – Nathan Cooper
                                      Aug 13 at 14:41










                                    • @NathanCooper, I don't know what are benefits from theoretical point of view, but I sometimes heard that people do it in practice (through I never did it myself). To say truth, I am now not even sure that it's intended to protect from warm, maybe it was intended to protect small/loose details from wind. Or is it just a mispractice that passes from ears to ears?
                                      – Sasha
                                      Aug 13 at 15:23







                                    • 1




                                      I actually have no idea. Tone doesn't come across in text, but I'm legitimately curious, because I think I may have heard that advice before as well. I know that you should cover ice blocks with snow, but that's different. I would test it, but I'm short on snowy weather atm.
                                      – Nathan Cooper
                                      Aug 13 at 19:25











                                    • Solid ice is denser? Takes longer to melt? Igloos are made from compacted snow, not ice blocks.
                                      – can-ned_food
                                      Aug 13 at 20:13










                                    • When I was young I was told (perhaps incorrectly) that you do this to igloos -- maybe to make them stronger e.g. harder (assuming e.g. in winter that it's already more than cold enough).
                                      – ChrisW
                                      Aug 13 at 20:59














                                    up vote
                                    0
                                    down vote













                                    As a bare minimum, you should take a sprayer with water (or just broom/bossom; or even a bucket of water — depending on the snowman's size) and cover the snowman's surface. Of course, it should be relatively cold outside (so that water soon/immediately freezes). This may deform snowman's surface a bit, but probably will make the snowman somewhat more secure against temporary warmings.



                                    Sorry, if the advice is too obvious.



                                    Update: Per Nathan Cooper, it might be just a myth/mispractice/rumor that covering a snowman with a layer of ice would strengthen it against warmness. Thermal conductivity of ice is actually higher and albedo of ice is actually lower. Or this procedure (covering a snowman with a layer of ice) may serve some specific goals (like durability of small details against wind), but not the warmness-protection.






                                    share|improve this answer


















                                    • 1




                                      Why? Ice has a higher thermal conductivity and reflects less sunlight as snow. What are the advantages here?
                                      – Nathan Cooper
                                      Aug 13 at 14:41










                                    • @NathanCooper, I don't know what are benefits from theoretical point of view, but I sometimes heard that people do it in practice (through I never did it myself). To say truth, I am now not even sure that it's intended to protect from warm, maybe it was intended to protect small/loose details from wind. Or is it just a mispractice that passes from ears to ears?
                                      – Sasha
                                      Aug 13 at 15:23







                                    • 1




                                      I actually have no idea. Tone doesn't come across in text, but I'm legitimately curious, because I think I may have heard that advice before as well. I know that you should cover ice blocks with snow, but that's different. I would test it, but I'm short on snowy weather atm.
                                      – Nathan Cooper
                                      Aug 13 at 19:25











                                    • Solid ice is denser? Takes longer to melt? Igloos are made from compacted snow, not ice blocks.
                                      – can-ned_food
                                      Aug 13 at 20:13










                                    • When I was young I was told (perhaps incorrectly) that you do this to igloos -- maybe to make them stronger e.g. harder (assuming e.g. in winter that it's already more than cold enough).
                                      – ChrisW
                                      Aug 13 at 20:59












                                    up vote
                                    0
                                    down vote










                                    up vote
                                    0
                                    down vote









                                    As a bare minimum, you should take a sprayer with water (or just broom/bossom; or even a bucket of water — depending on the snowman's size) and cover the snowman's surface. Of course, it should be relatively cold outside (so that water soon/immediately freezes). This may deform snowman's surface a bit, but probably will make the snowman somewhat more secure against temporary warmings.



                                    Sorry, if the advice is too obvious.



                                    Update: Per Nathan Cooper, it might be just a myth/mispractice/rumor that covering a snowman with a layer of ice would strengthen it against warmness. Thermal conductivity of ice is actually higher and albedo of ice is actually lower. Or this procedure (covering a snowman with a layer of ice) may serve some specific goals (like durability of small details against wind), but not the warmness-protection.






                                    share|improve this answer














                                    As a bare minimum, you should take a sprayer with water (or just broom/bossom; or even a bucket of water — depending on the snowman's size) and cover the snowman's surface. Of course, it should be relatively cold outside (so that water soon/immediately freezes). This may deform snowman's surface a bit, but probably will make the snowman somewhat more secure against temporary warmings.



                                    Sorry, if the advice is too obvious.



                                    Update: Per Nathan Cooper, it might be just a myth/mispractice/rumor that covering a snowman with a layer of ice would strengthen it against warmness. Thermal conductivity of ice is actually higher and albedo of ice is actually lower. Or this procedure (covering a snowman with a layer of ice) may serve some specific goals (like durability of small details against wind), but not the warmness-protection.







                                    share|improve this answer














                                    share|improve this answer



                                    share|improve this answer








                                    edited Aug 13 at 19:33

























                                    answered Aug 13 at 13:00









                                    Sasha

                                    1033




                                    1033







                                    • 1




                                      Why? Ice has a higher thermal conductivity and reflects less sunlight as snow. What are the advantages here?
                                      – Nathan Cooper
                                      Aug 13 at 14:41










                                    • @NathanCooper, I don't know what are benefits from theoretical point of view, but I sometimes heard that people do it in practice (through I never did it myself). To say truth, I am now not even sure that it's intended to protect from warm, maybe it was intended to protect small/loose details from wind. Or is it just a mispractice that passes from ears to ears?
                                      – Sasha
                                      Aug 13 at 15:23







                                    • 1




                                      I actually have no idea. Tone doesn't come across in text, but I'm legitimately curious, because I think I may have heard that advice before as well. I know that you should cover ice blocks with snow, but that's different. I would test it, but I'm short on snowy weather atm.
                                      – Nathan Cooper
                                      Aug 13 at 19:25











                                    • Solid ice is denser? Takes longer to melt? Igloos are made from compacted snow, not ice blocks.
                                      – can-ned_food
                                      Aug 13 at 20:13










                                    • When I was young I was told (perhaps incorrectly) that you do this to igloos -- maybe to make them stronger e.g. harder (assuming e.g. in winter that it's already more than cold enough).
                                      – ChrisW
                                      Aug 13 at 20:59












                                    • 1




                                      Why? Ice has a higher thermal conductivity and reflects less sunlight as snow. What are the advantages here?
                                      – Nathan Cooper
                                      Aug 13 at 14:41










                                    • @NathanCooper, I don't know what are benefits from theoretical point of view, but I sometimes heard that people do it in practice (through I never did it myself). To say truth, I am now not even sure that it's intended to protect from warm, maybe it was intended to protect small/loose details from wind. Or is it just a mispractice that passes from ears to ears?
                                      – Sasha
                                      Aug 13 at 15:23







                                    • 1




                                      I actually have no idea. Tone doesn't come across in text, but I'm legitimately curious, because I think I may have heard that advice before as well. I know that you should cover ice blocks with snow, but that's different. I would test it, but I'm short on snowy weather atm.
                                      – Nathan Cooper
                                      Aug 13 at 19:25











                                    • Solid ice is denser? Takes longer to melt? Igloos are made from compacted snow, not ice blocks.
                                      – can-ned_food
                                      Aug 13 at 20:13










                                    • When I was young I was told (perhaps incorrectly) that you do this to igloos -- maybe to make them stronger e.g. harder (assuming e.g. in winter that it's already more than cold enough).
                                      – ChrisW
                                      Aug 13 at 20:59







                                    1




                                    1




                                    Why? Ice has a higher thermal conductivity and reflects less sunlight as snow. What are the advantages here?
                                    – Nathan Cooper
                                    Aug 13 at 14:41




                                    Why? Ice has a higher thermal conductivity and reflects less sunlight as snow. What are the advantages here?
                                    – Nathan Cooper
                                    Aug 13 at 14:41












                                    @NathanCooper, I don't know what are benefits from theoretical point of view, but I sometimes heard that people do it in practice (through I never did it myself). To say truth, I am now not even sure that it's intended to protect from warm, maybe it was intended to protect small/loose details from wind. Or is it just a mispractice that passes from ears to ears?
                                    – Sasha
                                    Aug 13 at 15:23





                                    @NathanCooper, I don't know what are benefits from theoretical point of view, but I sometimes heard that people do it in practice (through I never did it myself). To say truth, I am now not even sure that it's intended to protect from warm, maybe it was intended to protect small/loose details from wind. Or is it just a mispractice that passes from ears to ears?
                                    – Sasha
                                    Aug 13 at 15:23





                                    1




                                    1




                                    I actually have no idea. Tone doesn't come across in text, but I'm legitimately curious, because I think I may have heard that advice before as well. I know that you should cover ice blocks with snow, but that's different. I would test it, but I'm short on snowy weather atm.
                                    – Nathan Cooper
                                    Aug 13 at 19:25





                                    I actually have no idea. Tone doesn't come across in text, but I'm legitimately curious, because I think I may have heard that advice before as well. I know that you should cover ice blocks with snow, but that's different. I would test it, but I'm short on snowy weather atm.
                                    – Nathan Cooper
                                    Aug 13 at 19:25













                                    Solid ice is denser? Takes longer to melt? Igloos are made from compacted snow, not ice blocks.
                                    – can-ned_food
                                    Aug 13 at 20:13




                                    Solid ice is denser? Takes longer to melt? Igloos are made from compacted snow, not ice blocks.
                                    – can-ned_food
                                    Aug 13 at 20:13












                                    When I was young I was told (perhaps incorrectly) that you do this to igloos -- maybe to make them stronger e.g. harder (assuming e.g. in winter that it's already more than cold enough).
                                    – ChrisW
                                    Aug 13 at 20:59




                                    When I was young I was told (perhaps incorrectly) that you do this to igloos -- maybe to make them stronger e.g. harder (assuming e.g. in winter that it's already more than cold enough).
                                    – ChrisW
                                    Aug 13 at 20:59










                                    up vote
                                    0
                                    down vote













                                    In addition to the cold-room solutions proposed by others, get your son to mix the snow with sawdust as he makes the snowman.



                                    This will drastically increase the snowman's resistance to temperatures and melting by making a mixture known as Pykrete.



                                    As an added benefit it's also much more resistant to physical damage, in case any pesky peasants attempt to destroy it.






                                    share|improve this answer
























                                      up vote
                                      0
                                      down vote













                                      In addition to the cold-room solutions proposed by others, get your son to mix the snow with sawdust as he makes the snowman.



                                      This will drastically increase the snowman's resistance to temperatures and melting by making a mixture known as Pykrete.



                                      As an added benefit it's also much more resistant to physical damage, in case any pesky peasants attempt to destroy it.






                                      share|improve this answer






















                                        up vote
                                        0
                                        down vote










                                        up vote
                                        0
                                        down vote









                                        In addition to the cold-room solutions proposed by others, get your son to mix the snow with sawdust as he makes the snowman.



                                        This will drastically increase the snowman's resistance to temperatures and melting by making a mixture known as Pykrete.



                                        As an added benefit it's also much more resistant to physical damage, in case any pesky peasants attempt to destroy it.






                                        share|improve this answer












                                        In addition to the cold-room solutions proposed by others, get your son to mix the snow with sawdust as he makes the snowman.



                                        This will drastically increase the snowman's resistance to temperatures and melting by making a mixture known as Pykrete.



                                        As an added benefit it's also much more resistant to physical damage, in case any pesky peasants attempt to destroy it.







                                        share|improve this answer












                                        share|improve this answer



                                        share|improve this answer










                                        answered Aug 14 at 2:40









                                        Chromane

                                        1,545318




                                        1,545318




















                                            up vote
                                            0
                                            down vote













                                            Step 1.
                                            Dig a ditch around the snowman. (So the snowman can't run away)



                                            Step 2.
                                            Tie a rope around the ditch and pull until the snowman and ground under the snowman moves.



                                            Step 3.
                                            Pull the snowman and ground under it to the North or South poll.



                                            Step 4.
                                            Take your son there and hope that he won't get lonely with just the snowman to talk to.






                                            share|improve this answer
























                                              up vote
                                              0
                                              down vote













                                              Step 1.
                                              Dig a ditch around the snowman. (So the snowman can't run away)



                                              Step 2.
                                              Tie a rope around the ditch and pull until the snowman and ground under the snowman moves.



                                              Step 3.
                                              Pull the snowman and ground under it to the North or South poll.



                                              Step 4.
                                              Take your son there and hope that he won't get lonely with just the snowman to talk to.






                                              share|improve this answer






















                                                up vote
                                                0
                                                down vote










                                                up vote
                                                0
                                                down vote









                                                Step 1.
                                                Dig a ditch around the snowman. (So the snowman can't run away)



                                                Step 2.
                                                Tie a rope around the ditch and pull until the snowman and ground under the snowman moves.



                                                Step 3.
                                                Pull the snowman and ground under it to the North or South poll.



                                                Step 4.
                                                Take your son there and hope that he won't get lonely with just the snowman to talk to.






                                                share|improve this answer












                                                Step 1.
                                                Dig a ditch around the snowman. (So the snowman can't run away)



                                                Step 2.
                                                Tie a rope around the ditch and pull until the snowman and ground under the snowman moves.



                                                Step 3.
                                                Pull the snowman and ground under it to the North or South poll.



                                                Step 4.
                                                Take your son there and hope that he won't get lonely with just the snowman to talk to.







                                                share|improve this answer












                                                share|improve this answer



                                                share|improve this answer










                                                answered Aug 15 at 11:56









                                                Mark Antony Agius

                                                1




                                                1




















                                                    up vote
                                                    -2
                                                    down vote













                                                    Make a bell-shaped glass container, one for each snowman. Then with the aid of a little magic have a dragon suck all the air out of it in order to create a vacuum. A little more magic is needed to seal it. Then, similarly to interstellar space, thanks to the absence of particles that could transmit heat to the snowman, it should take quite long to melt. Keep it in the shadow, you never know.






                                                    share|improve this answer
















                                                    • 5




                                                      A vacuum makes the problem even worse. A vacuum causes ice to sublimate into vapor. On top of that, the vacuum will not do anything to prevent heating via conduction, through the base, and radiation, through the glass walls. You need construction like a Dewar.
                                                      – user71659
                                                      Aug 13 at 16:22






                                                    • 2




                                                      As the other guy said, you should look at a phase diagram for water. Phase diagrams show the most stable physical forms — solid, liquid, gas — of a chemical at certain measured temperatures and pressures.
                                                      – can-ned_food
                                                      Aug 13 at 20:19










                                                    • Very nice, thanks for the interesting feedback! ;-)
                                                      – Will
                                                      Aug 14 at 6:56














                                                    up vote
                                                    -2
                                                    down vote













                                                    Make a bell-shaped glass container, one for each snowman. Then with the aid of a little magic have a dragon suck all the air out of it in order to create a vacuum. A little more magic is needed to seal it. Then, similarly to interstellar space, thanks to the absence of particles that could transmit heat to the snowman, it should take quite long to melt. Keep it in the shadow, you never know.






                                                    share|improve this answer
















                                                    • 5




                                                      A vacuum makes the problem even worse. A vacuum causes ice to sublimate into vapor. On top of that, the vacuum will not do anything to prevent heating via conduction, through the base, and radiation, through the glass walls. You need construction like a Dewar.
                                                      – user71659
                                                      Aug 13 at 16:22






                                                    • 2




                                                      As the other guy said, you should look at a phase diagram for water. Phase diagrams show the most stable physical forms — solid, liquid, gas — of a chemical at certain measured temperatures and pressures.
                                                      – can-ned_food
                                                      Aug 13 at 20:19










                                                    • Very nice, thanks for the interesting feedback! ;-)
                                                      – Will
                                                      Aug 14 at 6:56












                                                    up vote
                                                    -2
                                                    down vote










                                                    up vote
                                                    -2
                                                    down vote









                                                    Make a bell-shaped glass container, one for each snowman. Then with the aid of a little magic have a dragon suck all the air out of it in order to create a vacuum. A little more magic is needed to seal it. Then, similarly to interstellar space, thanks to the absence of particles that could transmit heat to the snowman, it should take quite long to melt. Keep it in the shadow, you never know.






                                                    share|improve this answer












                                                    Make a bell-shaped glass container, one for each snowman. Then with the aid of a little magic have a dragon suck all the air out of it in order to create a vacuum. A little more magic is needed to seal it. Then, similarly to interstellar space, thanks to the absence of particles that could transmit heat to the snowman, it should take quite long to melt. Keep it in the shadow, you never know.







                                                    share|improve this answer












                                                    share|improve this answer



                                                    share|improve this answer










                                                    answered Aug 13 at 15:18









                                                    Will

                                                    1171




                                                    1171







                                                    • 5




                                                      A vacuum makes the problem even worse. A vacuum causes ice to sublimate into vapor. On top of that, the vacuum will not do anything to prevent heating via conduction, through the base, and radiation, through the glass walls. You need construction like a Dewar.
                                                      – user71659
                                                      Aug 13 at 16:22






                                                    • 2




                                                      As the other guy said, you should look at a phase diagram for water. Phase diagrams show the most stable physical forms — solid, liquid, gas — of a chemical at certain measured temperatures and pressures.
                                                      – can-ned_food
                                                      Aug 13 at 20:19










                                                    • Very nice, thanks for the interesting feedback! ;-)
                                                      – Will
                                                      Aug 14 at 6:56












                                                    • 5




                                                      A vacuum makes the problem even worse. A vacuum causes ice to sublimate into vapor. On top of that, the vacuum will not do anything to prevent heating via conduction, through the base, and radiation, through the glass walls. You need construction like a Dewar.
                                                      – user71659
                                                      Aug 13 at 16:22






                                                    • 2




                                                      As the other guy said, you should look at a phase diagram for water. Phase diagrams show the most stable physical forms — solid, liquid, gas — of a chemical at certain measured temperatures and pressures.
                                                      – can-ned_food
                                                      Aug 13 at 20:19










                                                    • Very nice, thanks for the interesting feedback! ;-)
                                                      – Will
                                                      Aug 14 at 6:56







                                                    5




                                                    5




                                                    A vacuum makes the problem even worse. A vacuum causes ice to sublimate into vapor. On top of that, the vacuum will not do anything to prevent heating via conduction, through the base, and radiation, through the glass walls. You need construction like a Dewar.
                                                    – user71659
                                                    Aug 13 at 16:22




                                                    A vacuum makes the problem even worse. A vacuum causes ice to sublimate into vapor. On top of that, the vacuum will not do anything to prevent heating via conduction, through the base, and radiation, through the glass walls. You need construction like a Dewar.
                                                    – user71659
                                                    Aug 13 at 16:22




                                                    2




                                                    2




                                                    As the other guy said, you should look at a phase diagram for water. Phase diagrams show the most stable physical forms — solid, liquid, gas — of a chemical at certain measured temperatures and pressures.
                                                    – can-ned_food
                                                    Aug 13 at 20:19




                                                    As the other guy said, you should look at a phase diagram for water. Phase diagrams show the most stable physical forms — solid, liquid, gas — of a chemical at certain measured temperatures and pressures.
                                                    – can-ned_food
                                                    Aug 13 at 20:19












                                                    Very nice, thanks for the interesting feedback! ;-)
                                                    – Will
                                                    Aug 14 at 6:56




                                                    Very nice, thanks for the interesting feedback! ;-)
                                                    – Will
                                                    Aug 14 at 6:56












                                                     

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