| Term: | Depth hoar |
| Definition: | A layer of ice crystals, usually cup-shaped and facetted, formed by vapour transfer (sublimation followed by deposition) within dry snow beneath the snow surface. Depth hoar is associated with very fast crystal growth under large temperature gradients. Sometimes a layer of depth hoar forms just above, and may assist in identifying, the summer surface. The low density and low strength of depth hoar can make it difficult to retrieve unbroken core sections during coring, and can complicate estimates of accumulation by microwave remote sensing. Layers of depth hoar also increase the likelihood of avalanching. |
| Term: | Depth hoar |
| Definition: | A kind of hoarfrost; ice crystals that develop by sublimation within a layer of dry snow; characterized by rapid recrystallization, usually caused by large temperature gradients; similar in physical origin to crevasse hoar; crystals are faceted, rather than rounded. |
| Term: | Depth hoar |
| Definition: | 1.Ice crystals (usually cup-shaped, faceted crystals) of low strength formed by sublimation within dry snow beneath the snow surface; a type of hoarfrost. Associated with very fast crystal growth under large temperature gradients. This is one way in which firn formation may begin. Depth hoar is similar in physical origin to crevasse hoar. 2.Hoarfrost composed of crystals that have built up a three-dimensional complex of faceted, rather than rounded, crystals. |