 EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes
and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and
archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


 Backyard Avalanche

   April 12, 2021

    Pre-Avalanche (1)

   Photographer:  George Seielstad
   Summary Authors:  George Seielstad;  Jim Foster
   Seldom does an  avalanche occur on your outside deck, but conditions
   in February of 2021 created one at my home in western Montana. A snowy
   start to the month was followed by continuously cold weather through
   mid-February when only on one day did the thermometer reach freezing
   (32 F or 0 C).

   Shown above is a glass-topped table with rounded edges having a slight
   tilt. After snow piled up on the table, a meltwater lens allowed the
   load to gradually  slide slowly off the downhill edge. Notice how
   the curved edge is  rounded on the underside of the table. This
   demonstrates snow's substantial  tensile strength. Photos taken on
   February 19, 2021.
     * Missoula, Montana Coordinates:  46.872, -113.9940

Related EPODs

    Backyard Avalanche  Frost Pattern on Cold Window  Snowflakes
   and Symmetry  Cracks in the Ice on Utah Lake  Archive - A Day at
   the Beach  Archive - Ice Coring on Lake Placid
    More...

Cryosphere Links

     *  Guide to Frost
     *  What is the Cryosphere?
     *  Bentley Snow Crystals
     *  Glaciers of the World
     *  Ice, Snow, and Glaciers: The Water Cycle
     *  The National Snow and Ice Data Center Google Earth Images
     *  Snow and Ice Crystals

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   Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the  Universities
   Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu
 
