Qimutjuk - Snowdrift

Indigenous Knowledge

Qimutjuk ᕿᒧᑦᔪᒃ 
'(qimujjuk) pl. -it, (1) snow strees made by a gale (2) snow-drifts.' (Nunavimmiutitut, Schneider 1985: 304)

Qimugjuk ᕿᒧᒡᔪᒃ 
'snowdrift' (Baffin/Kivalliq, https://tusaalanga.ca/glossary?l=Q)
'snowdrift carved by the wind; sastrugi (from Russian zastrugi)' (Inuinnaqtun, Angulalik 2012: 77)

Western Knowledge

Snowdrift
'An accumulation or bank of snow formed when wind blows snow against an obstruction; often considerably thicker than the surrounding snowcover.' (National Snow and Ice Data Center)

Sastrugi
'wind-driven snow shapes that resemble sand dunes; may form on top of sea ice or land-based snow cover; can vary in size and complexity but often forms parallel to prevailing wind direction.' (National Snow and Ice Data Center)

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