firn
/fɜrn/
noun
- Granular, partially compacted snow that has survived at least one summer melt season, forming an intermediate stage between snow and glacial ice.
- Hikers crossed a field of firn, where the snow was dense and crunchy underfoot.
- The glacier is formed from layers of firn that have been compressed over centuries.
- Scientists drilled into the firn to study the climate history trapped in the ice.
Synonyms