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Cornice Direction of wind Fig. 8. Formation by wind of cornice and snow cushion. Drifting and erosion.—Wind is of great importance in determining snow conditions. It tends to pack and erode the snow on windward slopes, simultaneously depositing drifted snow on lee slopes. These drifts may become very deep and sometimes have a steep lee side. Since the friction and evaporation during movement of the snow tends to remove the branches from the crystals, the cohesion of these drifts initially is usually low, and dry-snow avalanches may result if the snow is not wind packed. Wind slabs may be formed, however, if the snow |
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