Sastrugi Finally Forms at the End of the Road

  • Post published:02/02/2015
  • Post comments:2 Comments
Sastrugi
Sastrugi February 1, 2015

It hasn’t been a great winter for the formation of sastrugi. The snow has been heavy and wet, not much given to drifting. But this last snow storm brought frigid temperatures and high gusting winds. The result is the first sastrugi of the year forming at the western lip of the Sunken Garden. The word sastrugi is from a Russian word which means snow wave  or caves. We have all noticed them.

sastrugi
Same sastrugi February 2, 2015

More now. The sastrugi  shifts and  the Sunken Garden is filling up with drifts.

Sastrugi
Sastrugi February 3, 2015

I couldn’t resist adding this photo showing the final sastrugi sculpture now that the snow and wind have stopped.

sastrugi
Gentle sastrugi waves February 17, 2014

Some times  the sastrugi waves are very gentle

Sastrugi
Sastrugi cave along the road January 24, 2009

A windy winter brings many sculptural shows like this sastrugi along the road. The wind is a powerful and artistic worker.

Sastrugi
Sastrugi collapse February 3, 2010

Sometimes the sastrugi is so extreme that it collapses under its own weight.  You may also notice the depth of the drift in the Sunken Garden. That stone wall is over 6 feet high.  The Heath winds come blowing from the northwest  across the open field and dump tons of snow into the Sunken Garden. I often have to  shovel the last icy bits of the drift out onto the lawn to help get all the snow out of the garden.

This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Lisa at Greenbow

    I feel that it is truly winter when Sastrugi is shown on your blog. I just love that word. It perfectly describes the snow formations. Happy Winter.

  2. Pat

    Lisa – Very happy winter! Lots of snow cover protecting the plants – and it has been cold.

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