A type of old snow which has gone through multiple thaw and refreeze cycles and thus is made of numerous small icy grains, though it is not nearly as saturated with water as snow-cone slush is; can be hard or somewhat soft depending on recent and current weather conditions
consolidated granular snow left over from the previous year Closer to ice than snow in density, it may require the use of crampons
Old snow on top of glaciers, granular and compact and not yet converted into ice It is a transitional stage between snow and ice Also called Neve
A permeable aggregate of small ice grains with densities greater than 0 55 up to 0 82 where begins glacial ice
(firn snow) Old snow on the top of glaciers, granular and compact but not yet converted into ice It is a transitional stage between snow and ice Also called ne've'
Granular, partially consolidated snow that has passed through one summer melt season but is not yet glacial ice. Also called old snow
Material that is transitional between snow and glacier ice It is formed from snow after passing through one summer melt season and becomes glacier ice after its permeability to liquid water falls to zero (Source: Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, 1990)
or neve snow that has lain on the ground for a full calendar year Firn is common at the tops of mountains; for example, the Alps in Europe After many years, compaction turns fim into ice and aglacier forms
Névé on a glacier that survives the year's ablation season With time much of the firn is transformed into glacial ice
a type of old snow which has gone through multiple thaw and refreeze cycles and thus is made of numerous small icy grains, though is not nearly as saturated with water as snow-cone slush is; can be hard or somewhat soft depending on recent and current weather conditions
a material transitional between snow and glacier ice Snow becomes firn after existing through one summer melt season; firn becomes glacial ice when its permeability to liquid water becomes zero
An imperfectly consolidated mixture of granular snow and ice that will ultimately become ice alone as time progresses
Firmly packed snow that has survived a summer melting season Firn has a density of about 0 4 gram per cubic centimeter Ultimately, firn turns into glacial ice
Old snow that has become granular and compacted as a result of melting and refreezing