Ablation Polygons on Snow—Further Observations and Theories

Abstract

Abstract A general description of ablation polygons is given and variations from widely distributed regions are examined. After discussion of the conditions in which they most frequently develop, possible explanations are considered, leading to the conclusion that the polygons result from ablation by turbulence in the surrounding air, and that the dirt fringes to the polygons may be explained by the “normal trajectory” theory.