Most likely, the amount is only estimated to the nearest 1000 m³ (about 260 000 gallons).
Is that US or imperial gallons? That of course illustrates the whole problem with using non-metric volumetric units in the international arena – how the hell are we to know just exactly how much (of snow or anything else) is involved? It is about time that, especially US sources, but the British are equally to blame, these sources realised that things like gallons (a) mean nothing to the rest of the world, and (b) cause confusion even among those who may know what a gallon is, but have no idea just what kind of gallon is being referred to. First off, you do not measure snow in gallons (imperial or US), or litres – they measure liquid volumes, and snow is not liquid. So these US reports actually do not tell me just how much snow is involved. At least I have some idea of just how much 450 000 m³ constitutes. At, say, 2 m thick, that would cover an area of 225 000 m², or 22.5 ha. At 5 m thick, 90 000 m², or 9 ha. I did those calculations in my head – try doing those in your head using gallons (US or imperial – who knows?), cubic feet or cubic yards. Can’t be done. Metric rules! John F-L From: John M. Steele Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 6:52 PM To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:52558] Storing Snow for Russian Olympics - Worst Media Conversion Ever? Yahoo says: "The host of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games is putting fears over its readiness on ice. Literally. Officials in Sochi, Russia, announced they are storing 118,877,424 gallons of snow in preparation for the games." http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/russia-storing-118-million-gallons-snow-winter-olympics-021550100.html;_ylt=AnrAD2QCQT.Bb7h93y65hKOs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTQ5YzBxdGVtBG1pdANTZWN0aW9uTGlzdCBUaGUgU2lkZXNob3cEcGtnAzA4MTdiZWVkLTYyZWItM2U5MC05MzEyLTAxZDFiZjA3NjI3MwRwb3MDNQRzZWMDTWVkaWFTZWN0aW9uTGlzdAR2ZXIDMWY0MGJjZjEtOTZmMC0xMWUyLWIxZWEtOWI4NTNkZjE5YTM4;_ylg=X3oDMTFpNzk0NjhtBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3 Got that? 118,877,424 gallons , right down to the last gallon. A few other US sources have cubic feet or cubic yards. AFP has it right, and some US sources used that version too, mostly with a (conversion) following: "The organizers are set to conserve a colossal 450,000 cubic meters of snow before April 15 when the thaw sets in to prevent any shortages of powder at the outdoor Olympic venues in case of unfavorable weather conditions next February, the resort said in a statement. The snow reserves will be covered by a 40-centimeter layer of specially processed sawdust to conserve it and to allow it to survive the upcoming spring, summer and autumn with minimum losses courtesy of a special technology" http://sports.inquirer.net/93251/russia-saves-up-snow-to-ensure-white-olympics Most likely, the amount is only estimated to the nearest 1000 m³ (about 260 000 gallons). No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.3267 / Virus Database: 3161/6207 - Release Date: 03/27/13
