Page 369 - BenchMark_6-1

On the Job with the Ski Patrol

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When the wind blows snow over the top of a ridge, it
n. a high pointed area near the top of a mountain
builds up on the side the wind is blowing toward. This

cornice
creates a snowy shelf—a cornice.

n. shelf of snow created as wind blows across a snowy surface

WIND DIRECTION fracture zone

snow

A cornice breaks off in the fracture zone.
cornice Although its impact is not as great as that of
ridge
an avalanche, if a cornice breaks off, it can

cause a large, dangerous slide.

Unit 10 | On the Job with the Ski Patrol