|| Starpath online classroom || Glossary || Glossary Index || Home ||

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

whiteout An optical phenomenon (mainly of the polar regions) that is produced when a uniform cloud cover forms over an unbroken snow cover; with these conditions all sense of depth and orientation is lost, engulfed in a uniformly white glow. Polar travelers report that even walking on skies in these conditions, you cannot tell if the next step will be down or up till you feel the angle of the skies. Whiteouts can last a week or more. These conditions are fairly common in northern Alaska during the winter and early spring.

[close window]