snow line

snow line
1. the line, as on mountains, above which there is perpetual snow.
2. the latitudinal line marking the limit of the fall of snow at sea level.
[1825-35]

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      the lower topographic limit of permanent snow cover. The snow line is an irregular line located along the ground surface where the accumulation of snowfall equals ablation (melting and evaporation). This line varies greatly in altitude and depends on several influences. On windward slopes and those facing the afternoon sun, the snow line may be as much as a kilometre (more than half a mile) higher than on opposite slopes. Over larger areas, summer temperatures and the amount of snowfall determine the position of the snow line. Where temperatures are low, as near the poles, the snow line is quite low in elevation; where temperatures are high, as near the Equator, the snow line is very high. Average altitudes of the snow line taken over large areas can be used to derive a climatic snow line, which rises or falls in altitude in response to worldwide climatic change. During glacial periods, the climatic snow line was from 600 to 1,200 m (2,000 to 4,000 feet) lower than at present.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Snow line — Snow Snow, n. [OE. snow, snaw, AS. sn[=a]w; akin to D. sneeuw, OS. & OHG. sn[=e]o, G. schnee, Icel. sn[ae]r, snj[=o]r, snaj[=a]r, Sw. sn[ o], Dan. snee, Goth. snaiws, Lith. sn[ e]gas, Russ. snieg , Ir. & Gael. sneachd, W. nyf, L. nix, nivis, Gr.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • snow line — snow′ line n. 1) mer the line, as on mountains, above which there is perpetual snow 2) mer the latitudinal line marking the limit of the fall of snow at sea level • Etymology: 1825–35 …   From formal English to slang

  • snow line — n the snow line the level above which snow on a mountain never melts …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • snow line — or snow limit n. the boundary between a region of permanent snow and a region where the snow melts in the summer …   English World dictionary

  • snow line — noun the line on a mountain above which there is perpetual snow and ice • Hypernyms: ↑line * * * noun 1. : the lower margin of a perennial snowfield : the elevation above which some snow remains throughout the year 2. : the extreme limit from the …   Useful english dictionary

  • Snow line — The snow line is the point above which, or poleward of which, snow and ice cover the ground throughout the year.The interplay of altitude and latitude affect the precise placement of the snow line at a particular location. At or near the equator …   Wikipedia

  • snow line — noun the snow line the level above which snow on a mountain never melts …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • snow line — sniego linija statusas T sritis Kūno kultūra ir sportas apibrėžtis Žemutinė nuolatinės sniego dangos riba kalnuose. atitikmenys: angl. snow line vok. Schneelinie, f rus. снежная линия …   Sporto terminų žodynas

  • snow line — lower line of an area (such as a mountain) covered with snow for most or all of the year; latitudinal line indicating where snowfall begins at sea level …   English contemporary dictionary

  • snow line — noun The altitude, in a mountainous region, above which the ground is covered with snow, at any particular time. Syn: snow level …   Wiktionary

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