Snow field
Encyclopedia
A snow field, snowfield or neve is a permanent accumulation of snow and ice, typically found below the snow line
. Normally the term is applied to mountainous
and glacial
terrain. In glaciology
, the term refers to areas of permanent snow cover.
Glaciers originate in snowfields. The lower end of a glacier is usually free from snow and névé
in summer. In the upper end and above the upper boundary of a glacier, the snow field is in fact an ice field
covered with snow. The glacier upper boundary, where it emerges from under a snow field, is ill-defined because of gradual transition.
Snow line
The climatic snow line is the point above which snow and ice cover the ground throughout the year. The actual snow line may seasonally be significantly lower....
. Normally the term is applied to mountainous
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
and glacial
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
terrain. In glaciology
Glaciology
Glaciology Glaciology Glaciology (from Middle French dialect (Franco-Provençal): glace, "ice"; or Latin: glacies, "frost, ice"; and Greek: λόγος, logos, "speech" lit...
, the term refers to areas of permanent snow cover.
Glaciers originate in snowfields. The lower end of a glacier is usually free from snow and névé
Névé
Névé is a young, granular type of snow which has been partially melted, refrozen and compacted, yet precedes the form of ice. This type of snow is associated with glacier formation through the process of nivation. Névé that survives a full season of ablation is referred to as firn, which is both...
in summer. In the upper end and above the upper boundary of a glacier, the snow field is in fact an ice field
Ice field
An ice field is an area less than 50,000 km² of ice often found in the colder climates and higher altitudes of the world where there is sufficient precipitation. It is an extensive area of interconnected valley glaciers from which the higher peaks rise as nunataks...
covered with snow. The glacier upper boundary, where it emerges from under a snow field, is ill-defined because of gradual transition.