snowfield

A layer of compact snow of small extent, located in a terrain area little exposed to sunlight, which endures without fully melting throughout the year or most of it. Snowfields are common in high mountain areas (above 2500 to 3000 m elevation, at mid-latitudes), where they manage to survive below the permanent snowline, both during the second half of spring and in summer, coinciding with the period of the year when the highest temperatures are reached. The snowfield is also known as ventisquero and helero - words that also carry other meteorological meanings -, in addition to several local terms.