| Term: | Orographic snowline |
| Definition: |
See snowline. IHPGlacierMassBalance
The imaginary line formed by the generalized lower limit of perennial snowpatches on the terrain surface between glaciers at the end of the ablation season. The orographic snowline is so called (originally by Ratzel in 1886) because its altitude is predominantly defined by local topography and exposure. IHPGlacierMassBalance The freezing level for precipitation formed by orographic lifting; the elevation above which rain or drizzle turns to snow. AMSglossary GCW |