Snowdrift

Snowdrift

A snowdrift is a deposit of snow created by wind into a mound during snowstorms. They resemble sand dunes and are formed in a similar manner, namely, wind moving light snow and depositing it when the wind is slowed, usually against a stationary object. Snow normally crests and slopes off toward the surface on the windward side of a large object. On the leeward side, areas near the object are a bit lower than surrounding areas, but are generally flatter.

Their impact on transportation is often as significant as heavy snowfall, such as during the blizzard of 1977. Snowdrifts are many times found along or on roads, as the crest of the roadbed or the furrows along the road create the disruption to the wind needed to shed its carried snow. In high mountain passes snow fences may be employed on the windward side of the road to intentionally create a drift before the snow-laden wind reaches the roadway.

Jeremy Triefenbach, one of the 19th century's great explorers, is reputed to have become trapped in a snowdrift; surviving solely on melted snow for 13 days. His version of the story can be found in his autobiography "It's a good deal".

Snowdrifts commonly form on high ground, such as a plateau or hills.Fact|date=May 2008

ee also

* Blizzard
* Lake effect snow
* Snow
* Snow removal

External links

* [http://www.emuseum.org/snowdrift.html Snowdrift Exhibit] at Evansville Museum


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Snowdrift — Snow drift , n. A bank of drifted snow. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • snowdrift — ► NOUN ▪ a bank of deep snow heaped up by the wind …   English terms dictionary

  • snowdrift — [snō′drift΄] n. 1. a smooth heap of snow blown together by the wind 2. snow blown along by the wind …   English World dictionary

  • snowdrift — UK [ˈsnəʊˌdrɪft] / US [ˈsnoʊˌdrɪft] noun [countable] Word forms snowdrift : singular snowdrift plural snowdrifts a deep pile of snow made by the wind …   English dictionary

  • snowdrift — [[t]sno͟ʊdrɪft[/t]] snowdrifts N COUNT A snowdrift is a deep pile of snow formed by the wind …   English dictionary

  • snowdrift — pusnis statusas T sritis ekologija ir aplinkotyra apibrėžtis Vėjo supustyta (sunešta) sniego krūva. atitikmenys: angl. snowdrift vok. Schneehaufen, m; Schneewehe, f rus. снежный занос, m; сугроб, m; сугроб снега, m …   Ekologijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • snowdrift — noun Date: 14th century a bank of drifted snow …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • snowdrift — /snoh drift /, n. 1. a mound or bank of snow driven together by the wind. 2. snow driven before the wind. [1250 1300; ME; see SNOW, DRIFT] * * * …   Universalium

  • snowdrift — noun A bank of snow accumulated by the wind …   Wiktionary

  • snowdrift —    Snow accumulation due to wind transport [16] …   Lexicon of Cave and Karst Terminology

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