[ a v a l a n c h e s : g l o s s a r y ]
Below are definitions of important avalanche terms.
- avalanche: a large mass of snow, ice, soil or rock, which detaches from a mountain slope and slides or falls suddenly downward; the sliding or falling of rocks, snow or other materials down the side of a mountain
- avalauncher: a cannon, powered by compressed nitrogen, that can hurl a two-pound projectile 2,000 yards. It is used to break up unstable snow, allowing it to avalanche and leaving more stable snow in place
- Bannwalder: an area of woodland in an avalanche zone, which cannot be cut or disturbed because it is a natural barrier to avalanches
- banned woods: an area of woodland in an avalanche zone, which cannot be cut or disturbed because it is a natural barrier to avalanches
- breakaway zone: the area where an avalanche is most likely to start or break away
- depth hoar: a layer of snow made up of round or cup-shaped crystals that act like ball bearings, allowing the layer of snow on top to slide of easily; also known as sugar snow
- gallery: a wooden, steel or concrete barrier or bridge built in known avalanche paths; a gallery allows cascading snow to pass over highways and railroad racks
- metamorphose: scientific term to describe the change in snow as it settles
- probe line: a line of 20 to 30 people, standing elbow to elbow, who advanced up a slope, poking into the snow with long poles in an effort to find victims buried by an avalanche
- slab: a layer of snow that breaks loose and avalanches
- sleet: falling snow or hail that has partly melted; partly frozen rain
- stabilized snow: a layer of snow that has metamorphosed; snow that has been packed down so that it will not avalanche; rangers stabilize a ski run, for example, by blowing up an unstable layer of snow, leaving only packed, safe snow for skiing
[ back to graphics version ]
Forces of Nature: ThinkQuest 2000 (Team #C003603)
http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/avalanches/glossary.shtml