| Term: | Avalanche |
| Definition: |
Mass of snow which becomes detached and slides down a slope, often acquiring great bulk by fresh addition as it descends. NSIDCCryosphere
A mass of snow, rock, and/or ice falling down a mountain or incline. In practice, it usually refers to the snow avalanche. In the United States, the term snow slide is commonly used to mean a snow avalanche. NOAA-NWS Mass of snow and ice falling suddenly down a mountain slope and often taking with it earth, rocks and rubble of every description. WMOMeteoterm A slide or flow of a mass of snow, firn or ice that becomes detached abruptly, often entraining additional material such as snow, debris and vegetation as it descends. The duration of an avalanche is typically seconds to minutes. IHPGlacierMassBalance Mass of snow and ice suddenly sliding down a mountain-side and often taking with it earth, rocks and rubble. WMOHydrology A mass of snow (perhaps containing ice and rocks) moving rapidly down a steep mountain slope. Avalanches may be characterized as loose and turbulent, or slab; either type may be dry or wet according to the nature of the snow forming it, although dry snow usually forms loose avalanches and wet snow forms slabs. A large avalanche sweeps a current of air along with and in front of it as an avalanche wind, which supplements its already tremendous destructive force. (Also called snowslide.) AMSglossary Mass of snow which becomes detached and slides down a slope, often acquiring great bulk by fresh additions as it descends. SPRI Snow avalanches; Ice avalanches GLIMSGlacier GCW |