Definitions for FIRN
firn

WiktionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. firnnoun

   A type of old snow which has gone through multiple thaw and refreeze cycles and thus is made of numerous small icy grains, though it is not nearly as saturated with water as snow-cone slush is; can be hard or somewhat soft depending on recent and current weather conditions.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Firn

   Firn (; from Swiss German firn "last year's", cognate with before) is partially compacted névé, a type of snow that has been left over from past seasons and has been recrystallized into a substance denser than névé. It is ice that is at an intermediate stage between snow and glacial ice. Firn has the appearance of wet sugar, but has a hardness that makes it extremely resistant to shovelling. Its density generally ranges from 0.35 g/cm3 to 0.9 g/cm3, and it can often be found underneath the snow that accumulates at the head of a glacier. Snowflakes are compressed under the weight of the overlying snowpack. Individual crystals near the melting point are semiliquid and slick, allowing them to glide along other crystal planes and to fill in the spaces between them, increasing the ice's density. Where the crystals touch they bond together, squeezing the air between them to the surface or into bubbles. In the summer months, the crystal metamorphosis can occur more rapidly because of water percolation between the crystals. By summer's end, the result is firn. The minimum altitude that firn accumulates on a glacier is called the firn limit, firn line or snowline.

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Firn

   Firn is partially compacted névé, a type of snow that has been left over from past seasons and has been recrystallized into a substance denser than névé. It is ice that is at an intermediate stage between snow and glacial ice. Firn has the appearance of wet sugar, but has a hardness that makes it extremely resistant to shovelling. Its density generally ranges from 550 kg/m³-830 kg/m³ and can be often found underneath the snow that accumulates at the head of a glacier. Snowflakes are compressed under the weight of the overlying snowpack. Individual crystals near the melting point are semiliquid and slick, allowing them to glide along other crystal planes and to fill in the spaces between them, increasing the ice's density. Where the crystals touch they bond together, squeezing the air between them to the surface or into bubbles. In the summer months, the crystal metamorphosis can occur more rapidly because of water percolation between the crystals. By summer's end, the result is firn. The minimum altitude that firn accumulates on a glacier is called the firn limit, firn line or snowline.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Firn

   firn, or fern, n. snow on high glaciers while still granular—the French névé. [Ger. firn, of last year; cf. obs. Eng. fern, former.]

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. FIRN

   What does FIRN stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the FIRN acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

Anagrams for FIRN »

1. NIRF

How to pronounce FIRN?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say FIRN in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of FIRN in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of FIRN in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Firn
2. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firn
3. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=FIRN
4. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=FIRN