snowfield

American  

[snoh-feeld] / ˈsnoʊˌfild /

noun

Geology.

1. a large and relatively permanent expanse of snow.

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snowfield British  

/ ˈsnəʊˌfiːld /

noun

1. a large area of permanent snow

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snowfield Scientific  

/ snō′fēld′ /

1. A large expanse of snow, usually with a smooth and uniform surface, and especially at the head of a glacier.

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Etymology

Origin of snowfield

First recorded in 1835–45; snow + field

Example Sentences

Magnetic storms distort satellite signals; frigid temperatures drain batteries or freeze equipment in minutes; navigation systems lack reference points on snowfields.

From The Wall Street Journal

"We are seeing entire snowfields melting within a day or two when rains fall on them and the huge quantity of water gushes down as floods," said Jakob Steiner, a geoscientist with University of Graz.

From BBC

Federal wildlife officials at the time predicted that despite warming temperatures, enough snow would persist at high elevations for wolverines to den in mountain snowfields each spring.

From Washington Times

“And it’s a ridiculous thing to say, because at that point, you’re not even halfway done with it. But for me, I’ve always hated the snowfield.”

From Seattle Times

But research on snowfields and glaciers across Iceland, Greenland and Scandinavia found red algae increases heat absorption by 13%.

From Seattle Times