Rapid changes in precipitation, wind, and temperature lead to what effect on the snowpack?

• A. Increased stability
• B. No effect
• C. Decreased density
• D. Higher stress on snowpack

Answer: (D)

Rapid changes in precipitation, wind, and temperature rearrange and stress the snowpack. When new snow falls, it adds weight that increases the vertical load the underlying layers must support. Wind can redistribute snow, piling it into dense slabs that sit on top of weaker layers, concentrating shear stress at those interfaces. Temperature shifts alter how snow crystals bond and metamorphose: warming can melt and refreeze, creating a more cohesive layer on top of a weak, faceted foundation, or cooling can promote weak, hollow crystals that don’t bind well. These processes create stronger stress contrasts and raise the internal forces within the snowpack, making failure more likely under its own weight or with an additional load.