Raised Footprints in Snow
In extremely cold places, such as in Antarctica or in high
altitudes, sometimes you get to see a peculiar phenomenon – footprints
that are raised rather than depressed in the snow. What actually happens
is when you step in the snow, the snow gets compressed and hardens, and
then the wind blows the loose snow away leaving the once sunken
footprints standing hard and proud on the surface. Eventually, the
hardened snow gets eroded as well, but it takes weeks or even months.
Raised snow footprints can last quite a while before all traces of the
footprints are eroded away. Because it requires more than a gale
to blow away snow, raised footprints are often taken as an indicator of
windslab and in mountain slopes, as potential avalanche danger. This is
why you won’t see raised footprints in your backyard, unless you live
in McMurdo.
Raised footprints on the summit of Blencathra, England. Photo credit
Raised footprint in Snowdonia, north Wales. Photo credit
Raised footprint near McMurdo Station. Photo credit
Raised footprint near McMurdo Station. Photo credit
Raised footprint near McMurdo Station. Photo credit
Raised footprint near McMurdo Station. Photo credit
Raised footprint near McMurdo Station. Photo credit
Raised footprint near McMurdo Station. Photo credit
Raised dog footprints in Antarctica. Photo credit
Photo credit
Raised footprints in Anie, Stirling, Great Britain. Photo credit
Raised footprints on Foulshiels Hill, Great Britain. Photo credit
Raised footprints on Bear Mountain, Alaska. Photo credit
Raised footprints on the summit of Blencathra, England. Photo credit
Raised footprint in Snowdonia, north Wales. Photo credit
Raised footprint near McMurdo Station. Photo credit
Raised footprint near McMurdo Station. Photo credit
Raised footprint near McMurdo Station. Photo credit
Raised footprint near McMurdo Station. Photo credit
Raised footprint near McMurdo Station. Photo credit
Raised footprint near McMurdo Station. Photo credit
Raised dog footprints in Antarctica. Photo credit
Photo credit
Raised footprints in Anie, Stirling, Great Britain. Photo credit
Raised footprints on Foulshiels Hill, Great Britain. Photo credit
Raised footprints on Bear Mountain, Alaska. Photo credit
Source consulted or translated: Raised Footprints in Snow
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