Stupid wood ash observation and question

We got a rare snow fall here. I usually spread wood ashes from the stove on the lawn but this time I spread them on the snow.
I noticed where the wood ashes were spread, the snow had melted down about 4”. Curious if this is due to the dark color of the ashes absorbing heat or if it’s some chemical reaction that makes the ashes work as a de-icer?


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The dark color...

 

I believe it’s both. Similar to how salt lowers the melting point of ice..

 

And yellow snow, as you're making it yellow, melts fastest of all.


Couldn't help it.

 

Get those every year around these parts. Just takes a little longer for that compacted stuff to go away.

 

Flat black absorbs sunlight.

 

Both. Potassium ions mostly. Salt has both ions and so is stronger (sodium chloride, calcium chloride...). I use ashes on ice and snow. Ashes work better than sand since the ions react and so stick to the ice while sand rolls around. Ashes first stick to ice for traction and then help melt the ice when the sun comes out.