What percentage of fresh snow is composed of air?

Fresh snow is generally comprised of between 90 and 95 percent air. The presence of trapped air makes snow a good insulator, so animals often construct snow caves in which to hibernate. The snow closest to the ground is warmest and stays insulated by the air composition.

This high composition of air also accounts for the quietness of snow. Sound waves are readily absorbed by fresh snow. The other major component of fresh snow is water crystals. The amount of water in the crystals varies according to such conditions as wind speed and temperature as well as the actual size of the crystals.