| Term: | Sastrugi |
| Definition: |
From Russian zastrugi, plural form of zastruga. IACSSnow
Complex, fragile shapes of snow on top of sea ice that resemble sand dunes; they form parallel to the prevailing wind direction; sastrugi can also form on snow cover over land. NSIDCCryosphere A variant spelling of zastrugi. IHPGlacierMassBalance Sea ice terminology. Describes sharp, irregular ridges formed on a snow surface by wind erosion and snow accumulation. On floating ice, the ridges are parallel to the direction of the wind that was present at the time they were formed. ECCCanada Sharp, irregular ridges formed on a snow surface by wind erosion and deposition. On drift ice the ridges are parallel to the direction of the prevailing wind at the time they were formed. WMOSeaIce Sharp irregular ridges formed on a snow surface by wind erosion and deposition. The ridges are parallel to the direction of the prevailing wind. The Russian word (zastrugi) is a collective noun and lacks a singular form. An individual ridge in a field of sastrugi has been called a sastruga in some English-language articles. AMSglossary Sharp, irregular ridges formed on a snow surface by wind erosion and deposition. The ridges are parallel to the direction of the prevailing wind. SPRI A series of long, frequently sharp, wave-like ridges of hard snow characteristic of windswept polar plains when the winds blow continually from one direction. Sastrugi are oriented perpendicular to the wind with a gentle slope to windward and a steep slope to leeward. syn. zastrugi WMOMeteoterm GCW |