| Term: | Snow density |
| Definition: | The ratio of the volume of meltwater that can be derived from a sample of snow to the original volume of the sample; strictly speaking, this is the specific gravity of the snow sample. Freshly fallen snow usually has a snow density of 0.07 to 0.15; glacial ice formed from compacted snow (or firn) has a maximum density of about 0.91. Values as low as 0.004 have been measured. |