how cold causes avalanches

Cold temperatures cause facets (incredibly angular, low density snow grains) to form.  Why do we care about facets?  Becuase facets cause snow pack instability and avalanches. 1ºC per 10cms of snow is the threshold for temperature gradient needed to grow facets.  Cold temperatures and facets are characteristic of the intercontinental and continental snow packs of Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, New […]