climatic snow line

The altitude above which a flat surface (fully exposed to sun, wind, and precipitation) would experience a net accumulation of snow over an extended period of time; below this altitude, ablation would predominate.

Related terms:

• snow line
• equilibrium line
• snow eater
• firn line
• snow pellets
• snow dune
• snow grains
• climatic prediction
• blowing snow
• snow course