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what is snow line in geography

by Jaycee O'Reilly DVM Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The snowline is the line (as in a point of elevation on a mountain) at which the amount of snow falling equals the amount of snow melting in the summer. If the climate cools enough, so that snowlines are lowered, glaciers develop in mountains, and ice sheets will develop in mid-latitudes.

Full Answer

What is the snow line?

The snow line is an irregular line located along the ground surface where the accumulation of snowfall equals ablation (melting and evaporation). This line varies greatly in altitude and depends on several influences.

What is the difference between orographic snow line and regional snow line?

The term "orographic snow line" is used to describe the snow boundary on surfaces other than glaciers. The term "regional snow line" is used to describe large areas.

What is the snow line of the Himalayan mountains?

Snow line of the Himalayan Mountains. The general definition of the term “snow line” is the boundary which separates areas which are covered with snow and areas that are not. However, the term can have different definitions depending on the context in which it is used and, therefore, there exist different types of snow lines.

What determines the position of the snow line?

Over larger areas, summer temperatures and the amount of snowfall determine the position of the snow line. Where temperatures are low, as near the poles, the snow line is quite low in elevation; where temperatures are high, as near the Equator, the snow line is very high.

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What is called snow line?

The climatic snow line is the boundary between a snow-covered and snow-free surface. The actual snow line may adjust seasonally, and be either significantly higher in elevation, or lower. The permanent snow line is the level above which snow will lie all year.

What is snow line answer?

Snow Line: The snow line on a mountain is the boundary beyond which there is permanent snow. It is about 3,500 metres above sea level. The snow line's location depends on conditions such as elevation, latitude, proximity to the sea, climate, wind direction, exposure, and the steepness of the slope.

What is the snow line and why is it important?

On Earth, a snow line is where snow and ice are present on the ground year-round. In space, it's where compounds like water or carbon monoxide (CO) freeze on to miniscule particles of dust in the disk of material surrounding young stars.

What is snow line in India?

Snow line is a line above which no vegetation grows on high altitude mountains because of permanent snow cover.

What is snow line class 7?

Snow line can be defined as an altitude above which snow presence is seen throughout the year. Snow is never melted at this range. At or near the equator, it is typically at approximately 4,500 meters. In Himalayas the permanent snow line can be as high as 5,700 metres.

What do you mean by snow line for Class 7?

Definition of snow line : the lower margin of a perennial snowfield.

Where does the snow line start?

The snow line is an irregular line located along the ground surface where the accumulation of snowfall equals ablation (melting and evaporation). This line varies greatly in altitude and depends on several influences.

What latitude is the snow line?

average elevation at which snow occurs regularly, hereafter referred to as the snowline, is consistent by latitude between continents for latitudes less than around 35 -40 N or S (Figure 3).

Which is the best definition of a glacial snow line?

What is the best definition of glacial snow line? the line dividing zones of accumulation and melting of ice at the surface of a glacier.

What is snow line class 9?

Class 9thTamilnadu - Social Science Term-12. Lithosphere – II Exogenetic Processes. Answer : Snowline is the line demarcating between the snow-covered and snow-free areas. It is the line up to which the level of snow extends given a particular point of time.

What is snowline in geography class 10?

What is snow line? The snow line on a mountain is the boundary beyond which there is permanent snow. It is about 3,500 metres above sea level. The snow line's location depends on conditions such as elevation, latitude, proximity to the sea, climate, wind direction, exposure, and the steepness of the slope.

What do you mean by Snowline Class 10?

an imaginary line on a mountain that marks the height above which snow does not completely melt.

What is snow line class 9?

Class 9thTamilnadu - Social Science Term-12. Lithosphere – II Exogenetic Processes. Answer : Snowline is the line demarcating between the snow-covered and snow-free areas. It is the line up to which the level of snow extends given a particular point of time.

What does Firn stand for?

firn, (German: “of last year”, ) also called Névé, partially compacted granular snow that is the intermediate stage between snow and glacial ice. Firn is found under the snow that accumulates at the head of a glacier.

What is the snow line?

Snow line, the lower topographic limit of permanent snow cover. The snow line is an irregular line located along the ground surface where the accumulation of snowfall equals ablation (melting and evaporation). This line varies greatly in altitude and depends on several influences.

How high is the climatic snow line?

During glacial periods, the climatic snow line was from 600 to 1,200 m (2,000 to 4,000 feet) lower than at present.

How high is the snow line on a slope?

On windward slopes and those facing the afternoon sun, the snow line may be as much as a kilometre (more than half a mile) higher than on opposite slopes. Over larger areas, summer temperatures and the amount of snowfall determine the position of the snow line.

What is the snow line?

Snow line is an umbrella term for different interpretations of the boundary between snow-covered surface and snow-free surface. The definitions of the snow line may have different temporal and spatial focus. In many regions the changing snow line reflect seasonal dynamics.

How high is the snow line?

The interplay of altitude and latitude affects the precise placement of the snow line at a particular location. At or near the equator, it is typically situated at approximately 4,500 metres (14,764 ft) above sea level. As one moves towards the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, the parameter at first increases: in the Himalayas the permanent snow line can be as high as 5,700 metres (18,701 feet), whilst on the Tropic of Capricorn, no permanent snow exists at all in the Andes, because of the extreme aridity. Beyond the Tropics, the snow line becomes progressively lower as the latitude increases, to just below 3,000 metres (9,843 ft) in the Alps and falling all the way to sea level itself at the ice caps near the poles.

What is the boundary between the accumulation zone and the ablation zone on glaciers called?

The boundary between the accumulation zone and the ablation zone on glaciers is called the "annual snow line". The glacier region below this snow line was subject to melting in the previous season. The term "orographic snow line" is used to describe the snow boundary on surfaces other than glaciers.

What is the glacier equilibrium line?

Glacier equilibrium line. The glacier equilibrium line is the point of transition between the accumulation zone and ablation zone. It is the line where the mass of these two zones is equal.

Why is the snow line important?

Because the snow line can be established without on-the-ground measurements, it can be measured in remote and difficult to access areas. Therefore, the snow line has become an important variable in hydrological models.

How high is the snow line in the Himalayas?

As one moves towards the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, the parameter at first increases: in the Himalayas the permanent snow line can be as high as 5,700 metres (18,701 feet), whilst on the Tropic of Capricorn, no permanent snow exists at all in the Andes, because of the extreme aridity.

What does a higher glacier line mean?

A higher glacier equilibrium line will indicate that the glacier is shrinking, whereas a lower line will indicate that the glacier is growing. The terminus of a glacier advances or retreats based on the location of this equilibrium line.

What is the snow line?

altitude above which or latitude beyond which snow does not melt in summer (usually called the permanent snow line), or, in winter, the line to which snow extends at a given point in time. Factors affecting the location of the snow line are the quantity of snowfall, the steepness of the slope on which snow rests, the exposure of an area to the sun and prevailing winds, the type and velocity of the winds, and the presence or absence of large bodies of water. The level of the snow line is much lower in winter than in summer. It is also affected by distance from the equator, along which it is found at an altitude of c.3 mi (5 km); in polar regions it is at sea level.

What is the line above which the accumulation of solid atmospheric precipitation is greater than the melting and evaporation of?

A distinction is made between the climatic snow line (the highest position at the end of the summer) and the seasonal, or temporary, line.

What is a snow line?

n. 1. The lower altitudinal boundary of a snow-covered area, especially of one that is perennially covered, such as the snowcap of a mountain. 2.

What is the line on a mountain above which there is perpetual snow and ice?

snow line- the line on a mountain above which there is perpetual snow and ice

How far away is the snow line from the star?

The snow lineis initially far away from the star, perhaps at least one billion miles.

How high is the snow line in Snowdonia?

Steve Dube reports reports THE permanent winter snow lineabove 610m - 2,000ft - in Snowdonia is a thing of the past.

What is the boundary of a mountain?

1. The boundary marking the lowest altitude at which a given area, such as the top of a mountain, is always covered with snow.

Where is the ice line in the solar system?

That's because ice in the early solar system is thought to have formed beyond a "snow line" lying somewhere between Mars and Jupiter.

Did we see any chance of relieving it till we reached the snow linefar, far above us?

By this time our water was exhausted once more, and we were suffering severely from thirst, nor indeed could we see any chance of relieving it till we reached the snow linefar, far above us.

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Overview

  • Another factor which affects the position of the snow line is the distance of a region from the coast. Regions which lie near the coast usually receive more snowfall than areas situated further inland. As a result, the snow line of coastal regions is usually lower than that of regions found away fro…
See more on worldatlas.com

Background

Snow lines of global regions

Glacier equilibrium line

Records

Snow line is an umbrella term for different interpretations of the boundary between snow-covered surface and snow-free surface. The definitions of the snow line may have different temporal and spatial focus. In many regions the changing snow line reflect seasonal dynamics. The final height of the snow line in a mountain environment at the end of the melting season is subject to climatic variability, and therefore may be different from year to year. The snow line is measured using au…

See also

The interplay of altitude and latitude affects the precise placement of the snow line at a particular location. At or near the equator, it is typically situated at approximately 4,500 metres (15,000 ft) above sea level. As one moves towards the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, the parameter at first increases: in the Himalayas the permanent snow line can be as high as 5,700 metres (19,00…

1.What Is The Snow Line? - WorldAtlas

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34 hours ago snow line, altitude above which or latitude beyond which snow does not melt in summer (usually called the permanent snow line), or, in winter, the line to which snow extends at a given point …

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33 hours ago snow line, altitude above which or latitude beyond which snow does not melt in summer (usually called the permanent snow line), or, in winter, the line to which snow extends at a given point …

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21 hours ago the elevation at which there is a division between snow covered and uncovered ground. Geography Dictionary & Glossary for Students \\ ITS Tutorial School (ITS) - Hong Kong . …

6.Snow line - definition of snow line by The Free Dictionary

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17 hours ago The snow line is an irregular line located along the ground surface where the accumulation of snowfall equals ablation (melting and evaporation). This line varies greatly in altitude and …

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