Avalanche and Snow Science

Crystals that grow on the surface of snow from water vapor in the air

• Surface Hoar

• Depth Hoar

• Frost

• Ice

Top fracture surface of slab avalanche

• Crown Face

• Cornice

• Stauchwall

• Lee Side

Avalanche that releases a cohesive layer of snow

• Sluff Avalanche

• Slab Avalanche

Avalanche that starts as a single point, also known as a sluff

• Point-release Avalanche

• Slab Avalanche

• Graupel Avalanche

The accumulation of snow and all its different layers

• Avalanche

• Snowdrift

• Snowpack

down-wind side of a ridge, sheltered from the wind

• Toe

• Cornice

• Lee-side

collapsible pole used to locate victim of an avalanche

• Probe

• Beacon

• Shovel

Mass of snow deposited by wind, often overhanging on top edge of a ridge

• Cornice

• Snowdrift

• Windslab

• All of these

The most common slope angles for avalanches to occur

• 30-45 degrees

• 45-60 degrees

• 20-35 degrees

mass x velocity

• momentum

• speed

• force

• impulse

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-2