It has long been known that a temperature gradient in the snowpack, when temperatures are less than 0°C, can metamorphose the snow to produce a fragile euhedral crystalline end product called “depth hoar" which is considered to be responsible for snowpack collapse and climax avalanches. The wave of metamorphism advancing through anhedral snow converts it, first to subhedral, and finally to euhedral depth hoar. Our field observations, which are at the moment supported by laboratory evidence, reveal that the zone of minimum snow strength in the gradient metamorphic layer is associated with the intermediate subhedral phase rather than with the euhedral end product.

Calcite (Mohs hardness 3), fluorite (hardness 4) and periclase (hardness 5 1/2) have been eroded by snow blown at moderate wind velocities, at temperatures between —10 and —25°C. Future interpretations involving ventifacts and apparently wind-blasted rock exposures must take this information into account.

Success has been achieved in relocating wire netting, which was subsequently covered by a year’s net accumulation of snow on Berendon Glacier. A signal produced by a wire loop tuned to respond to a 15 kHz electromagnetic output was readily detected by a hand-held battery-powered electromagnetic detector. Sextant readings on fixed landmarks around the glacier aided in locating the search area.

It is shown that when the elastic properties of sea-ice sheets are taken into account, wind-induced tilt is insufficient to cause cracking. These results are contrary to those of Weber and Erdelyi (1976) who considered the ice to be rigid.