Which term describes slabs on weak layers buried by one or more storms?

• A. Slabs on weak layers buried by one or more storms
• B. Weak layer deep in snowpack and close to ground
• C. Release of entire snow cover
• D. Top fracture surface of slab avalanche

Answer: (A)

Storm slab formation is the idea here: a cohesive mass of snow (a slab) sits on top of a weak layer that was buried by one or more storms. When the load increases or the weak layer is disturbed, the slab can shear and slide, producing a slab avalanche. The phrasing that describes slabs on weak layers buried by storms captures both the presence of the slab and the buried weak layer created by snowfall events, which is exactly the scenario we’re studying.

The other phrases point to related ideas but don’t describe this specific setup: a weak layer deep in the snowpack highlights depth of weakness rather than the storm-buried slab; releasing the entire snow cover implies a full-depth avalanche; and the top fracture surface refers to where the failure occurs, not the overall term for the scenario.