Avalanche character definition table

Character	Weak Layer / Interface	Slab Property	Persistence	Weak Layer Location	Propagation Potential	Relative Size Potential
Loose Dry	Various (no cohesion)	None	Hours/days	Near the surface	Down slope entertainment	R1-2
Loose Wet	Various (no cohesion)	None	Hours/days	Any level	Significant down slope entrainment	R1-3
Wind Slabs	DF, PP	4F-K wind transported	Hours/days	Upper pack	Terrain features	R1-3
Storm Slabs	PP, DF	F-P Soft-stiff	Hours/days	In or just below storm snow	Path	R1-4
Wet Slabs	Various	4F-P Wet grains	Hours/days	Midpack to deep	Path	R1-5 (climax)
Persistent Slabs	PWLs such as SH, FC, CR, FC/CR combo	4F-P Stiff-hard	Weeks/months	Upper to midpack	Path to adjacent path	R2-4
Deep Persistent Slabs	PWLs such as DH, FC, CR, FC/CR combo	1F-K Hard	Weeks/months	Deep or basal	Path to adjacent paths	R3-5 (climax)
Cornice	~	~	Months with short peaks	~	~	~
Comment	Typical failure plane	Typical kind of slab	Typical duration of instability	Relative to HS	Typical expectation	Typical range of size relative to path

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