CHAPTER III 

 SNOW- WAVES AND SNOW-RIPPLES 



Ripples in Moist Snow. 



Damp snow and dry snow — Ripples in moist snow during 

 snowfalls observed in Hyde Park — They face up- wind — 

 Recede by erosion of wind-facing cliff — During lulls travel 

 up-wind — Mode of erosion of partially consolidated snow : 

 first transverse, finally longitudinal ridges, with a transition 

 stage between — Stratification shown by erosion. 



Waves in Dry, Drifting Snow. 



Formed near Montreal at minus 8° Fahrenheit — Length 

 and height — Flatter than sand-waves — Movement visible 

 and more rapid than that of sand — Surface unrippled — 

 Measurements of snow-waves, in Manitoba, formed during 

 removal of snow — Waves formed during snowfall — Their 

 formation upon a plane surface free from obstructions. 



Crescentic Snow-waves or Snow-bar chans. 



Formed in patches of loose snow travelling on a hard 

 surface — Finer lines than sand-barchans both in profile 

 and plan — Formation of crust on surface of snow and its 

 effect in arresting growth and movement of snow-waves — 

 Explained as due to sublimation — Increase in density of 

 snow which has been drifted by wind — Compared with 

 increase of density due tc pressure. 



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