snow line

noun

1. the line, as on mountains, above which there is perpetual snow.
2. the latitudinal line marking the limit of the fall of snow at sea level.

snow line

noun

1. the altitudinal or latitudinal limit of permanent snow

snow line

1. The boundary marking the lowest altitude at which a given area, such as the top of a mountain, is always covered with snow.
2. The boundary marking the furthest extent around the polar regions at which there is snow cover. The polar snow lines vary with the seasons.

Word History and Origins

Origin of snow line¹

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

First, as temperatures get warmer the rain/snow line will move to higher altitudes, meaning that a greater proportion of precipitation will fall as rain.

From Los Angeles Times

In addition, the snow line has been creeping upward directly in response to the warming that’s taken place over the past few decades, said Alexander Gershunov, research meteorologist with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

From Los Angeles Times

Photos distributed by the office showed rescue workers trying to recover the bodies down from a loose, rocky apron below an even steeper slope above the snow line.

From Seattle Times

The scientists also looked at how retreating snow lines could affect the skiing industry after 2050 under a scenario of unmitigated warming.

From Los Angeles Times

With warmer air moving into California, the snow line will be much higher than in previous storms the past few weeks — as high as 8,000 to 10,000 feet.

From Washington Post