snow

whiteout

a condition in which daylight is diffused by multiple reflections between a snow surface and an overcast sky; contrasts vanish, and the observer is unable to distinguish the horizon or any snow surface feature.

Topic:

watermelon snow

snow with red algae growing on it.

Topic:

unbreakable crust

a hard snow surface lying upon a softer layer; may be formed by sun, rain or wind, and is described as breakable crust or unbreakable crust, depending upon wether it will break under the weight of a turning skier.

Topic:

surface hoar

the deposition (sublimation) of ice crystals on a surface which occurs when the temperature of the surface is colder than the air above and colder than the frost point of that air.

Topic:

temperature-gradient metamorphism

snow metamorphism that occurs when there are strong differences in temperature between the bottom and top of a snow layer.

Topic:

supersaturation

the condition which occurs in the atmosphere when the relative humidity is greater than 100%.

Topic:

climatology and meteorology

supercooled

the condition when a liquid remains in the liquid state even through its temperature is below its freezing point.

Topic:

climatology and meteorology

sublimation

the transition of a substance from the solid phase directly to the vapor phase, or vice versa, without passing through an intermediate liquid phase.

Topic:

climatology and meteorology

sun cups

ablation hollows that develop during intense sunshine.

Topic:

snowstorm

strong wind with snow.

Topic:

climatology and meteorology

Pages