Australia Weather News

We're answering two Curious Canberra questions today that touch on snowfall and spaceships.

As frost begins to adorn Canberra's lawns and ice takes over our windshields, there is no doubt that winter is on its way.

Max Brighton, a fourth-year student at the Australia National University (ANU), has been wondering whether he'll witness substantial snowfall during his degree.

"I've lived here for a few years and I've seen snow on the higher reaches of the mountains around Canberra," he said.

"I was wondering [what's] the likelihood of a significant snowfall in the suburban areas of Canberra in any given year? Is it a one per cent chance? A 10 per cent chance?"

Historically, Canberra's cold weather hasn't always been coupled with snowfall.

While there have been occasional dustings, the most significant events occur roughly every 12-16 years, with major events in 1949, 1965, 1987, and 2000 - when the Raiders were forced to battle the elements as well as the opposition.

More recently, Canberra did get powder in July 2016 and August 2015, but certainly not enough to build a mighty snowman.

Jake Phillips, a senior forecaster with the Bureau of Meteorology, said three conditions have to occur before it snows.

"We need some fairly cool temperatures, it doesn't have to be zero at ground level but it does have to be quite close," he said.

"We also need a fair bit of humidity in the mid-levels of the atmosphere. That's the moisture source which is going to provide that precipitation which falls as snow.

"The other ingredient we need is some instability or a lifting mechanism… to push that air upwards and start forcing the precipitation to fall out of it."

So will we see snow in 2017?

"The longer-term average is about once every three years, so if you're playing the odds… you might say no, but the weather doesn't work like that," Jake said.

While we can't rule it out for this year, Max might have to consider postgraduate studies if he's keen to see snow in the city.

What is the dome-shaped building at the National Gallery of Australia?

Our second question comes from Sydneysider Caitlin Williams.

She stopped into the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) during a visit to Canberra and wondered why the grounds contained a dome emerging from under a pyramid of grass.

"When you're standing in the middle of it, it's like you're in a spaceship or a cathedral," she said.

"It's just such an incredible place to be in [and] I don't even know what it's about."

Before the installation returned to its home planet, I met with Lucina Ward, a senior curator at the NGA.

Lucina explained that the installation was called 'Within Without'. This "skyspace" is the work of American artist James Turrell, who explores the medium of light through open air fixtures.

The artwork itself is made of an open-roofed stupa, which is a hemispherical structure for meditation. It's housed in a square-based pyramid and surrounded by running water to muffle outside sound.

The NGA commissioned the work, which is one in a series of Turrell skyspaces that can be found around the world.

"Part of the reason [Turrell] wanted to build the work here... was because of the atmospheric conditions here in Canberra; sub-alpine conditions and clear skies," Lucina said.

"The whole idea of having a wide-open sky is very important for this work of art because it's a space from which we view the sky."

Dusk and dawn are the most popular times to visit the installation, due to the dramatic change in light, with the optimal viewing times updated daily on the NGA website.

While patrons are free to interpret the fixture how they wish, the structure been designed purposefully.

"The artist's use of light within the space causes special changes to take place. The contrast between the light inside the space and the light outside, makes us see the sky," Lucina says.

"It's extraordinary what tricks the work of art plays on your both your eyes but also your body too, as you relax into it."

Having learned what the mysterious structure was all about, our questioner Caitlin has begun to rethink her perception of art.

"When you think about light in artworks you think about the way that things have been painted, not really about something you can walk into," she said.

More about our questioners:

Caitlin Williams lives in Sydney and is studying to be a librarian. She also practises beekeeping, is a hobbyist field recorder and enjoys powerlifting.

MaxBrighton moved to Canberra from Sydney three-and-a-half years ago for uni. He's an Arts/Law student at ANU and he remains excited about the prospect of seeing snow.