snow course

An established line, usually from several hundred feet to as much as a mile long, traversing representative terrain in a mountainous region of appreciable snow accumulation; along this course, measurements of snow cover are made to determine its water equivalent.

Related terms:

• snow roller
• snow line
• snow survey
• snow cover
• snow gage
• snow garland
• snow eater
• blowing snow
• snow mantle
• snow grains