TERMIUM Plus®
The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.
ICE PENITENTE [2 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2021-07-14
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Glaciology
- Geomorphology and Geomorphogeny
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- penitent ice
1, record 1, English, penitent%20ice
correct
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
- ice penitent 2, record 1, English, ice%20penitent
correct
- ice penitente 3, record 1, English, ice%20penitente
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A spike or pillar of ... glacier ice caused by differential melting and evaporation. 4, record 1, English, - penitent%20ice
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Necessary for this formation are 1) air temperature near freezing; 2) dewpoint much below freezing; and 3) strong insolation. Consequently, penitent ice is most developed on low-latitude mountains, especially the Chilean Andes, but has been found in polar regions. Penitents are oriented individually toward the noonday sun, and usually occur in eastwest lines. 4, record 1, English, - penitent%20ice
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
penitente: term of Spanish origin. 3, record 1, English, - penitent%20ice
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Glaciologie
- Géomorphologie et géomorphogénie
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- pénitent de glace
1, record 1, French, p%C3%A9nitent%20de%20glace
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Pointe de glace [...] ou de glacier causée par la fonte et l'évaporation. 2, record 1, French, - p%C3%A9nitent%20de%20glace
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Lorsque le champ de neige se trouve sur un glacier, les pénitents, au lieu de tomber et de disparaître à la fin de l'été, continuent à se creuser dans la glace du glacier. Les pénitents de glace ne diffèrent des pénitents de névé qu'en deux points : a) La glace étant imperméable, l'eau de fonte coule entre eux, formant des mares qui se couvrent de glace la nuit. b) La glace renferme plus souvent que la neige des strates d'impuretés. 1, record 1, French, - p%C3%A9nitent%20de%20glace
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record 2 - internal organization data 2021-07-14
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Glaciology
- Geomorphology and Geomorphogeny
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- penitent
1, record 2, English, penitent
correct, noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
- penitente 2, record 2, English, penitente
correct
- sun spike 3, record 2, English, sun%20spike
correct
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A free standing column of ice, firn, or compacted snow that has been formed by differential melting and sublimation. 4, record 2, English, - penitent
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
penitente: term of Spanish origin. 5, record 2, English, - penitent
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 PHR
Ice, snow penitent. 5, record 2, English, - penitent
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 PHR
Ice, nieve, snow penitente. 5, record 2, English, - penitent
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 3 PHR
Penitent ice, snow. 5, record 2, English, - penitent
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Glaciologie
- Géomorphologie et géomorphogénie
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- pénitent
1, record 2, French, p%C3%A9nitent
correct, masculine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Pilier pointu de glace ou de neige sèche, de taille humaine et incliné dans la direction du soleil. 2, record 2, French, - p%C3%A9nitent
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 PHR
Pénitent de glace, neige. 2, record 2, French, - p%C3%A9nitent
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
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