TypeAlso CalledHow it formsWhat it means Looks likeSounds likeSnowpit symbol New snowHas over 100...
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Type Also Called How it forms What it means Looks like Sounds like Snowpit symbol New snow Has over 100 common names Falls from the sky Can mean weak layer or slab Rounded snow •Equilibrium •Age- hardened •ET Small temp gradients within snowpack promote settlement as snow ages Strong layers – usually forms slab or bed surfaces Faceted snow Depth hoar •Squares •Sugar snow •Recrystalli zed •Loud powder •TG Large temp gradients within snowpack cause “kinetic“ metamorphism Especially dangerous weak layer: common cause of avalanche accidents! Crust •Rime •Rain crust •Sun crust •Wind crust Variety of crusts are formed in a variety of ways Can be slabs, weak interfaces, or bed surfaces Wet snow •Melt-freeze •Clustered grain Free water in the snowpack Wet snow avalanches – both sluffs and + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • = Rime crust • = Wind crust = Rain or Sun crust o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
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Transcript of TypeAlso CalledHow it formsWhat it means Looks likeSounds likeSnowpit symbol New snowHas over 100...
Type Also Called How it forms What it means
Looks like Sounds like Snowpit symbol
New snow Has over 100 common names
Falls from the sky
Can mean weak layer or slab
Rounded snow •Equilibrium •Age-hardened•ET
Small temp gradients within snowpack promote settlement as snow ages
Strong layers – usually forms slab or bed surfaces
Faceted snow
Depth hoar
•Squares•Sugar snow•Recrystallized•Loud powder•TG
Large temp gradients within snowpack cause “kinetic“ metamorphism
Especially dangerous weak layer: common cause of avalanche accidents!
Crust •Rime•Rain crust•Sun crust•Wind crust
Variety of crusts are formed in a variety of ways
Can be slabs, weak interfaces, or bed surfaces
Wet snow •Melt-freeze•Clustered grain•Corn snow•Glop
Free water in the snowpack
Wet snow avalanches – both sluffs and slabs
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• • • • •
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• • • • • •
= Rime crust
• = Wind crust
= Rain or Sun crust
o o o o
o o o o o o o o
o o o o
