1. Snow is a good ___________. This results in the temperature at the snow-ground interface being very close to freezing, in most cases.
Insulator
2. Metamorphism
a) Is a continuous process
b) Is influenced by temperature
c) can create a more or less stable snowpack depending on weather and snowpack conditions
d) All of the above
d.
3. Identify the following as being associated with either rounding or faceting metamorphism.
a) Proceeds rapidly at 32 degrees F.
b) Forms crystals that have edges and faces
c) Caused by large temperature gradient
d) Requires air permeability in the snowpack
e) Forms rounded grains
f) Forms weak layers
g) Most common in early winter
a. Rounding
b. Faceting
c. Faceting
d. Faceting
e. Rounding
f. Faceting
g. Faceting
4. What is the primary cause of slabs?
Wind
5. The property determining whether an avalanche wil be loose snoow or slab is
a) VanderWalls forces
b) Sublimation
c) Saltation
d) Cohesion
d.
6. Melt-freeze snow metamorphism can result in
a) Weak snow that will almost certainly avalanche
b) Strong snow that will almost certainly not avalanche when in the freeze cycle
c) Conditionally stable snow that might avalanche
d) All of the above
d.
7. List at least three critical pieces of information that may be obtained from a hasty pit.
Weak Layers
Crystal structure change
High temperature gradient
Presence of a slab
Conditions leading to wet avalanching
Low shear strength
8. The best indicator of widespread snow instability is
a) Widespread hard slab
b) Extensive depth hoar development
c) Recent avalanche activity on slopes of similar orientation
d) Sudden temperature changes
c.
9. Which of the following tests allows you to directly test layer to layer bonding?
a) Rutschblock
b) Ski pole test
c) Resistance (credit card tests)
d) Hand hardness test
a.
10. Rollerballs (Sunballs) are and indication of
a) Mid-pack faceted layers
b) Snow glide
c) Settlement
d) A potential for wet snow avalanches
d.
