| Term: | Snow line |
| Definition: |
The minimum elevation of snow lying on the ground or glacier surface; the snow line at the end of an ablation season marks a glacier's current equilibrium line. NSIDCCryosphere
In general, the outer boundary of a snow-covered area. It has at least two specific applications: 1) the actual lower limit of the snow cap on high terrain at any given time; 2) the ever-changing equatorward limit of snow cover, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere winter. AMSglossary Altitudinal or latitudinal limit separating zones where snow does not melt during the summer season from areas in which it does. Similar to the concept of firm limit except that it is not limited to glaciers. PhysicalGeography The line or zone on land that separates areas in which fallen snow disappears in summer from areas in which snow remains throughout the year. The altitude of the snow line is controlled by temperature and the amount of snowfall (cf. Equilibrium line and Firn line). SPRI GCW |