Névé

Névé is a young, granular type of snow which has been partially melted, refrozen and compacted. This type of snow is associated with glacier formation. Névé that survives a full season of ablation is referred to as firn, which is both older and slightly denser. Firn becomes glacial ice – the long-lived, compacted ice that glaciers are composed of.

Névé has a minimum density of 500 kg/m³.

Névé can also refer to the alpine region in which snowfall accumulates, becomes névé, and feeds a glacier.

References

http://www.physicalgeography.net/physgeoglos/n.html PhysicalGeography.net Glossary of Terms