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firn Definition

firn (firn)

noun

the granular snow, not in a completely compacted mass, that accumulates at the top of a glacier

Etymology: Ger < firn, of last year, old, akin to OE fyrn, former < IE base *per-, beyond > far, first

firn Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • polar: Annual layers in polar firn detected by Borehole Optical Stratigraphy.

Modifies a noun

  • core: Shallow firn cores will be analyzed in the field to see variability in snowfall.