Term
Wind-affected snow
Snow whose surface or distribution has been changed by wind.
GLOSSARY · Terrain, snow & environment
Wind moves snow, scouring some areas to hard or icy surfaces and piling it up in others as drifts and pillows. Wind-affected snow can be firm, uneven or slabby, and wind-loaded slopes are a classic avalanche concern.
Context and distinction
Wind affect describes how snow was shaped; crust and slush describe its surface state. Both can be present on the same slope.
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Definition-first entry
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