GEOLOGY & PLANETARY SCIENCE A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z                    HOME ABOUT CATEGORIES SITE MAP COPYRIGHT ADVERTISE CONTACT entire Web this site avalanche Avalanche from Curtis Ridge on Mount Rainier, 23 Oct 1992. Image: USGS A mass of snow, ice, and mixed rubble moving down a mountainside or over a precipice, usually caused by loud noises or other shock waves acting on snow already unstable from subsurface thawing. Avalanches can be major factors in erosion. Related category    • GEOLOGY AND PLANETARY SCIENCE Also on this site: Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living Encyclopedia of History Transport Concepts & Designs (partner site) BACK TO TOP