Plaques de neige

English translation: sheets of snow

21:33 Jan 4, 2010
French to English translations [Non-PRO]
Meteorology
French term or phrase: Plaques de neige
Swiss Meteo warning
David Richards
English translation:sheets of snow
Explanation:
ROADS:
ATTENTION SUR LES ROUTES ce mardi matin. Il y a encore des PLAQUES DE NEIGE entre St Julien Chapteuil et Les Balayes.
http://www.zoom43.fr/actu/ACT_detail.asp?strId=37771

MOUNTAINS:
La rupture des PLAQUES DE NEIGE paraît être la cause principale de déclenchement d'AVALANCHES : elle peut survenir pendant toute la saison d'hiver, pour autant que les conditions telles que ['enneigement, la température, le vent, la topographie, soient favorables.
iahs.info/redbooks/a069/069020.pdf

AIRPORTS:
• [TRADUCTION]
Les pistes, les voies de circulation et les aires de trafic doivent être dégagées de façon que les aéronefs puissent atterrir, se déplacer et se stationner en toute sécurité. Cela signifie que la chaussée doit être exempte de PLAQUES DE NEIGE, de morceaux de glace et de tout autre corps étranger
http://www.bst.gc.ca/fra/rapports-reports/aviation/2001/a01h...

The English version gives:
Runways, taxiways and aprons must be cleared so that aircraft can land, taxi, and park safely. This means that the pavement is cleared of LUMPS OF SNOW, chunks of ice and other foreign objects
http://www.bst.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/aviation/2001/a01h...

This MeteoSuisse site suggests it's road snow:

Conséquences possibles
• PLAQUE DE glace et/ou DE NEIGE compacte ou verglas
• Risque de verglas/ PLAQUE DE NEIGE
http://www.meteosuisse.admin.ch/web/fr/dangers/details/vergl...

Assuming this is your case, I'd go for "sheets of snow", though in addition to sheets of snow forming naturally on roads, this also covers "chunks" or "slabs" of snow that have fallen off inadequately cleared snow-covered vehicles.

The Kansas Department of Transportation reports all roads in Douglas ... Crews and traffic seem to have cleared the SHEETS OF SNOW and ice ...
www2.ljworld.com/.../snow-falling-again-lawrence-accidents-reported-sli

But he never expected the raindrops would turn into SHEETS OF SNOW. ... Could not take the back road of Soledad Cyn road because that is ...
latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/.../another-storm-h.html

Large SHEETS OF SNOW that FALL OFF ONTO ROADS are HAZARDARDOUS FOR OTHER DRIVERS, and when they slide down and cover your windshield they are obviously ...
hubpages.com/.../Driving-on-Snow-and-Ice---Tips-and-Tricks

And SHEETS OF SNOW BLOWING OFF THE HOOD will blind you ... or the driver behind you .... Wait for the weather and roads to clear before you hit the highway. ...
www.goodadvicepress.com/badweatherdriving.htm

Yesterday morning as I was removing the SHEETS OF SNOW from the walks and the .... hauling debris, paving roads, leaf removal and fixing drainage problems. ...
articles.baltimoresun.com/keyword/snow-removal

Clear the rest to AVOID THROWING DANGEROUS SHEETS OF SNOW AND ICE WHILE DRIVING. ... If you must drive when the road is snowy or icy, plan your trips ...
www.communityalertonline.com/fa.aspx?ID=23


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 days (2010-01-14 15:06:16 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

You want to watch out for those plaques de neige. Came down some stairs the other day, exercising appropriate caution, then obviously relaxed once my feet were on the ground since they slid out from under me and I a broke a rib falling backwards onto a planter. Pay attention to those weather reports!
Selected response from:

Bourth (X)
Local time: 12:31
Grading comment
Thanks for the research! I'm no longer puzzled by the Meteosuisse's cryptic announcements!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +3snow slab
Hilary Wilson
4 +2sheets of snow
Bourth (X)
4plates of snow
liz askew
3stetches of deep snow
Steve Melling
3 -1patches of snow
Claire Chapman
4 -2deadman
trebla
Summary of reference entries provided
liz askew
A paper on MT of Swiss weather
Travelin Ann

Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): -1
patches of snow


Explanation:
French
Avec du vent et quelques plaques de neige, je allé jusqu'à cette cache ce samedi (3-5-2005) après midi.

English
With the wind and some patches of snow, I gone this hiding place this Saturday ( 3-5-2005 ) after noon.
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/log.aspx?lid=6834604

Claire Chapman
Local time: 07:31
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jean-Claude Gouin: OR snow patches ...
32 mins
  -> Thank you, 1045

disagree  liz askew: much more serious than this.
1 hr

disagree  Alan Douglas (X): No. "Snow slab" is the term used by mountaineers. It can also be referred to as a "wind slab" where wind blown snow overlays a more compacted/icy layer below, which can give rise to "wind slab avalanches".
12 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
plates of snow


Explanation:
#
FAQ | Utah Avalanche Center
What we normally call avalanches are "slabs" or cohesive plates of snow that shatter like a pane of glass and slide as a unit off the mountainside. ...
utahavalanchecenter.org/education/faq - United States - Cached - Similar
#
SATSIE - Current instrumentation techniques for measuring snow ...
1 Oct 2003 ... Thus, the possibility arises that the nature of collisions within the avalanche can be inferred from the plates. However, because snow ...
www.leeds.ac.uk/satsie/instruments.html - Cached - Similar
#
Avalanche
Dry slab avalanches account for nearly all the avalanche deaths in North America. A “slab” is a cohesive plate of snow that slides as a unit on the snow ...
www.avalanche.org/~uac/encyclopedia/avalanche.htm - Cached - Similar
#
Cold Regions Science and Technology : Snow avalanche speed ...
by I Vilajosana - 2007 - Cited by 1
Earlier studies of speed determination of snow avalanches have been based ... Seismic and load plate data analyses indicated that in avalanche 2 the dense ...
linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0165232X06001455
#
Application of the snow cover model SNOWPACK to snow avalanche ...
by K NISHIMURA - 2005 - Cited by 3 - Related articles
... Observation data ; digital simulation ; stability ; Thick plate ; Snow ... Snow avalanche warning ; Snow cover simulation ; Snow stability evaluation ; ...
cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=17286666

liz askew
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:31
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -2
deadman


Explanation:
If this is in reference to mountain climbing, it could be a claque à neige, known in English as a deadman or snow fluke.

Termium gives the following definition:

Snow flukes
(deadmen) are used as protective devices and belay anchors. These are metal plates flat angled, fitted with nylon or wire slings. Bury them in the snow or drive them in at about forty-five degrees uphill from the line of pull, with the open side of the angle toward the slope. A pull on the wire should drive the fluke deeper.

trebla
Canada
Local time: 07:31
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Alan Douglas (X): A "deadman" is a metal plate approx 30cm square on 3 sides, pointed on 4th side with steel cable attached at centre. It is used by alpinists as a snow anchor or belay point.
8 hrs

disagree  B D Finch: Why assume two typos and a reference to a specific piece of mountain climbing equipment in a weather report?
9 hrs
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10 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
stetches of deep snow


Explanation:
I have never heard of slabs of snow. Sorry.

Steve Melling
France
Local time: 12:31
Native speaker of: English
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44 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +3
snow slab


Explanation:
of interest to anyone skiing, mountaineering, etc

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 47 mins (2010-01-04 22:20:45 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

or slabs given it is plural!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 52 mins (2010-01-04 22:25:44 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

If it is a Swiss met warning, I think they are more likely to point out relatively pertinent or severe conditions, rather than mere snow patches.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 hrs (2010-01-05 12:00:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

My answer is incorrect, now we have the context, a general SMS msg for the Lausanne area. It is addressed to motorists, etc...


    Reference: http://www.avalanche-center.org/Education/glossary/slab.php
    Reference: http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/encyclopedia/soft_slab_avalanc...
Hilary Wilson
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:31
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  liz askew: I have seen the extra context! Sheds new light on the subject:) Always a good idea to verge on the side of safety though.
37 mins
  -> Thank you!

agree  Alan Douglas (X): Having spent many years as an alpinist, skier and professional mountaineering instructor "snow slab" is 100% correct & is one of the major causes of avalanches.
11 hrs

agree  B D Finch
12 hrs
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12 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
sheets of snow


Explanation:
ROADS:
ATTENTION SUR LES ROUTES ce mardi matin. Il y a encore des PLAQUES DE NEIGE entre St Julien Chapteuil et Les Balayes.
http://www.zoom43.fr/actu/ACT_detail.asp?strId=37771

MOUNTAINS:
La rupture des PLAQUES DE NEIGE paraît être la cause principale de déclenchement d'AVALANCHES : elle peut survenir pendant toute la saison d'hiver, pour autant que les conditions telles que ['enneigement, la température, le vent, la topographie, soient favorables.
iahs.info/redbooks/a069/069020.pdf

AIRPORTS:
• [TRADUCTION]
Les pistes, les voies de circulation et les aires de trafic doivent être dégagées de façon que les aéronefs puissent atterrir, se déplacer et se stationner en toute sécurité. Cela signifie que la chaussée doit être exempte de PLAQUES DE NEIGE, de morceaux de glace et de tout autre corps étranger
http://www.bst.gc.ca/fra/rapports-reports/aviation/2001/a01h...

The English version gives:
Runways, taxiways and aprons must be cleared so that aircraft can land, taxi, and park safely. This means that the pavement is cleared of LUMPS OF SNOW, chunks of ice and other foreign objects
http://www.bst.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/aviation/2001/a01h...

This MeteoSuisse site suggests it's road snow:

Conséquences possibles
• PLAQUE DE glace et/ou DE NEIGE compacte ou verglas
• Risque de verglas/ PLAQUE DE NEIGE
http://www.meteosuisse.admin.ch/web/fr/dangers/details/vergl...

Assuming this is your case, I'd go for "sheets of snow", though in addition to sheets of snow forming naturally on roads, this also covers "chunks" or "slabs" of snow that have fallen off inadequately cleared snow-covered vehicles.

The Kansas Department of Transportation reports all roads in Douglas ... Crews and traffic seem to have cleared the SHEETS OF SNOW and ice ...
www2.ljworld.com/.../snow-falling-again-lawrence-accidents-reported-sli

But he never expected the raindrops would turn into SHEETS OF SNOW. ... Could not take the back road of Soledad Cyn road because that is ...
latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/.../another-storm-h.html

Large SHEETS OF SNOW that FALL OFF ONTO ROADS are HAZARDARDOUS FOR OTHER DRIVERS, and when they slide down and cover your windshield they are obviously ...
hubpages.com/.../Driving-on-Snow-and-Ice---Tips-and-Tricks

And SHEETS OF SNOW BLOWING OFF THE HOOD will blind you ... or the driver behind you .... Wait for the weather and roads to clear before you hit the highway. ...
www.goodadvicepress.com/badweatherdriving.htm

Yesterday morning as I was removing the SHEETS OF SNOW from the walks and the .... hauling debris, paving roads, leaf removal and fixing drainage problems. ...
articles.baltimoresun.com/keyword/snow-removal

Clear the rest to AVOID THROWING DANGEROUS SHEETS OF SNOW AND ICE WHILE DRIVING. ... If you must drive when the road is snowy or icy, plan your trips ...
www.communityalertonline.com/fa.aspx?ID=23


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 days (2010-01-14 15:06:16 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

You want to watch out for those plaques de neige. Came down some stairs the other day, exercising appropriate caution, then obviously relaxed once my feet were on the ground since they slid out from under me and I a broke a rib falling backwards onto a planter. Pay attention to those weather reports!

Bourth (X)
Local time: 12:31
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 10
Grading comment
Thanks for the research! I'm no longer puzzled by the Meteosuisse's cryptic announcements!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Hilary Wilson: Given the available context, this is the correct answer, not slabs! or stretches of snow
2 hrs

agree  Alphacen: Thanks for the research! I'm no longer puzzled by the Meteosuisse's cryptic announcements!
9 hrs
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Reference comments


1 hr
Reference

Reference information:
http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:ZTP4q8s36DoJ:fr.wikipedia...


Avalanches de plaques [modifier]

Ces avalanches, souvent déclenchées par des skieurs ou randonneurs, sont celles qui font le plus de victimes. Elles impliquent parfois des plaques à vent (dont le rôle est souvent surestimé), et dans presque tous les cas une couche fragile sous-jacente de neige à faible cohésion (le plus souvent du givre de profondeur) qui représente le principal facteur de risque. Le départ se fait alors sur une superficie importante, et mobilise de très grandes quantités de neige, dans des zones parfois éloignées de la rupture initiale. Si parfois on peut être alerté par des bruits de soufflement ou d'effondrement quand on marche dessus, il n'est généralement pas possible de les reconnaître a priori. Ces plaques peuvent être constituées de neige dure (cohésive) ou friable (poudreuse, parfois très légère).

http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:I2FuraGTE5wJ:infao5501.ag...

Snow Avalanches

The avalanche is the most underestimated danger in the mountains. People generally think that they will be able to recognise the hazards and survive being caught. The truth is a somewhat different story. Every year, 120 - 150 people die in small avalanches in the Alps alone. The vast majority are reasonably experienced male skiers aged 20-35 but also include ski instructors and guides. There is always a lot of pressure to risk a snow crossing. Turning back takes a lot of extra time and effort, supreme leadership, and most importantly there seldom is an avalanche to prove the right decision was made. Making the decision to turn around is especially hard if others are crossing the slope, but any next person could become the trigger.

There are two types of avalanche:

1. The slab avalanche: This type of avalanche occurs when a plate of snow breaks loose and starts sliding down; these are the largest and most dangerous.
2. The powder avalanche: This type of avalanche is triggered by a small amount of moving snow that accumulates into a big slide. Also known as a "loose snow" avalanche.

liz askew
United Kingdom
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

6 mins
Reference: A paper on MT of Swiss weather

Reference information:
in 3 languages

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 hrs (2010-01-05 14:49:26 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Schneebrettegefahr
danger de plaques de neige
danger of snow patches


    Reference: http://www.aclweb.org/anthology/A/A92/A92-1029.pdf
Travelin Ann
Native speaker of: English
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