ALISON: Lake Ice and Snow Science


	Lake Ice and Snow Science
		\| WHY STUDY LAKE ICE AND SNOW? \| BASIC CONCEPTS \| LAKE ICE \| SNOW \| QUIZ \|
		\| Formation \| Metamorphism \| Conductive Heat Flow \| Other Properties \|
		SNOW: Metamorphism The snowpack consists of ice crystals, water vapour and, with temperatures near 0°C, liquid water. Unlike ice, snow is permeable allowing air and water to circulate through the snow pack. Snow metamorphism is the change in the structure and texture of snow grains which result from variations in temperature, migration of liquid water and water vapor, and pressure within the snow cover. The flow chart shows the general pattern of snow crystal growth and decay. Equi-temperature (ET) metamorphism is destructive while temperature gradient (TG) metamorphism is constructive. Melt-freeze (MF) metamorphsim occurs when the air temperatures fluctuate above and below freezing.
		THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN VARIOUS FORMS OF SNOW METAMORPHISM AND SNOW CRYSTAL TYPES Click here for more information about snow metamorphism.

Lake Ice and Snow Science