frost line

See also: frostline

English

Alternative forms

• frostline

Noun

frost line (plural frost lines)

1. The depth to which the water present in the soil is expected to freeze in winter.

   Synonyms: frost depth, freezing depth

   The uninsulated water pipes must be installed below the frost line to prevent them from freezing.

2. The depth to which the water present in the soil is actually frozen in a given place at a given point in time.

   Synonym: frost front

   Due to the thin layer of snow on the ground the frost line has penetrated unusually deep this year.

3. (astrophysics) In a solar system, the distance from the protosun beyond which hydrogen-containing gas compounds freeze.

   Synonyms: snow line, ice line

   In our Solar System the frost line lies between Mars and Jupiter at about five astronomical units from the Sun.

Translations

expected depth of soil freezing

• Finnish: routaraja

actual depth of soil freezing

• Finnish: routaraja

astronomy: distance from the protosun

• Finnish: jääraja