ClimateAugust 31, 2026
firn
FURN
Definition
Snow that has survived at least one summer and has been compressed into a dense, granular, icy state, forming an intermediate stage between snow and glacial ice.
Etymology
The word comes from the Swiss German word 'firn', which originally meant 'of last year' or 'previous'. It entered English in the late 19th century as a technical term in glaciology to describe aging, granular snow.
In the news
The article explains that snow accumulates on high mountain ledges and compacts into firn as part of the initial process of forming a hanging glacier. This dense, icy material is a crucial foundation for the development of glacial ice in high-altitude environments.
Hanging Glaciers: Formation, Features & Climate Change Risks
Read the full article ↗INSIGHTS IAS