大量的积雪在重力作用下突然从山坡上滑落与崩塌的现象叫做雪崩。它是高山地区,尤其是气候潮湿多雪的山区一种分布普遍而活动特殊的自然现象,也是上述地区最活跃与最快速的剥蚀营力之一。

During the investigations on the Guxiang mud-rock flow in Xizang from 1964 up to 1965, we also observed the distribution, damage, types, activity and forms of snow avalanche, and its roles in the physical geographic processes of high mountains.The main contents in this paper are as follows:1. The distribution and activity of snow avalanche.2. The favorable conditions for snow avalanche.3. The types of snow avalanche.4. The role of snow avalanche in the physical geographic processes of high moun-tains:(1) The geologic and geomorphologic functions of snow avalanche;(2) The function of snow avalanche in nourishment of glaciers;(3) The influence of snow avalanche on plant cover;(4) The relationship between snow avalanche and mud-rock flow.5. The influence of snow avalanche on constructional works in mountainous regions.