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  • Rounded Polycrystals, Wind Crusts, and Melt-Freeze Crusts

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    Serkan Sancak
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    This document discusses different types of snow crusts and surface hoar that can form on snow. It describes melt-freeze crusts and how they differ from rounded polycrystals based on their structural units. Rain crusts form from freezing rain while melt-freeze crusts more commonly form from rain. Sun crusts and wind crusts are also briefly described. The document also includes a table that lists different sub-classes of surface hoar based on their formation temperature and description, including needle, plate, dendrite, cup or scrolls, and composite forms. Referenced is provided for further explanation of surface hoar classifications.

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    AppendixF2

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    This document discusses different types of snow crusts and surface hoar that can form on snow. It describes melt-freeze crusts and how they differ from rounded polycrystals based on their structural units. Rain crusts form from freezing rain while melt-freeze crusts more commonly form from rain. Sun crusts and wind crusts are also briefly described. The document also includes a table that lists different sub-classes of surface hoar based on their formation temperature and description, including needle, plate, dendrite, cup or scrolls, and composite forms. Referenced is provided for further explanation of surface hoar classifications.

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    63 views2 pages

    Rounded Polycrystals, Wind Crusts, and Melt-Freeze Crusts

    Uploaded by

    Serkan Sancak
    This document discusses different types of snow crusts and surface hoar that can form on snow. It describes melt-freeze crusts and how they differ from rounded polycrystals based on their structural units. Rain crusts form from freezing rain while melt-freeze crusts more commonly form from rain. Sun crusts and wind crusts are also briefly described. The document also includes a table that lists different sub-classes of surface hoar based on their formation temperature and description, including needle, plate, dendrite, cup or scrolls, and composite forms. Referenced is provided for further explanation of surface hoar classifications.

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    Appendix F: ICSI International Classification

    Snow, Weather, for Seasonal Snow on the Ground


    and Avalanches

    Rounded Polycrystals, Wind Crusts, and Melt-Freeze Crusts


    To distinguish between rounded polycrystals (MFpc) and a melt-freeze crust (MFcr), consider the
    structural units. If a crust layer is broken apart, the result is lumps of variable size since the crust (of
    indeterminate length and width) is the structural unit. If a portion of a layer of frozen rounded
    polycrystals is broken apart, the result is quite consistently sized particles (the individual polycrystals).
    When formed by freezing rain, rain crusts (IRrc) are often thin, fragile transparent layers that form on
    the surface. Rain more commonly forms melt-freeze crust (MFcr), which can vary from thin (several
    mm to 1 cm) to thick (>5 cm) layers.
    Sun crusts (IFsc) are thin, fragile transparent layers that form on the surface. More commonly, direct sun
    causes a melting of the snow that results in a melt-freeze crust (MFcr).
    Wind crusts (RGwp) are thin irregular layers of small, broken or abraded, closely packed and well-
    sintered particles (usually found on windward slopes). The particles in these layers may be similar in
    appearance to those in wind slabs (usually found on lee slopes); however, some authors report that parti-
    cle size is more variable in wind crusts than wind slabs.

    Surface Hoar
    Sub-classes listed in Table F.1 can be used to record different types of surface hoar (SH).

    Table F.1 Sub-classes of surface hoar (based on Jamieson and Schweizer, 2000)

    Sub-class Description Formation Temperature

    Primarily one dimensional, sometimes spike- or


    i. Needle Below -21°C
    sheath-like

    Two-dimensional sector plate; usually wedge shaped


    ii. Plate and narrow at base. Usually striated when formed; -10°C to -21°C
    however, the striations may disappear while buried in

    Two-dimensional form with numerous branches; often


    iii. Dendrite -10°C to -21°C
    feather-like in appearance; narrow at base

    Three-dimensional; these form with narrow base on


    surface of the snowpack; once separated from the
    iv. Cup or scrolls
    snowpack, these forms can be indistinguishable from
    depth hoar-cup crystals

    Combinations of shapes associated with subclasses


    v. Composite forms
    i to iv

    Refer to Fierz and others (2009) for further explanation of shapes, place of formation, classifications,
    physical processes and common effects on strength. The document is online at:
    http://www.cryosphericsciences.org/snow_class.html

    127
    Snow, Weather, and Avalanches

    128

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