Snow and Avalanche Glossary

[Click here to return to the page you came from!]

Melt Freeze Metamorphism

Also: Melt-Freeze Cycle

Metamorphism which results from one or (more commonly) more cycles of melting followed by refreezing.

One sequence of melting conditions followed by freezing conditions is called a melt-feeze cycle. This is usually diurnal with melt occuring starting in mid-morning or early aftrenoon and freezing starting when the sun goes down.

A period of melt-freeze metamorphism leads to corn snow.

Questions or suggestions on this entry? Discuss them on our forums!

This glossary is a work in progress and is made possible by AlpenPro.

www.avalanche-center.org