has part preceded by has input has output snowfall neve firn nivation Often, the weight of material deposited on top of powdery snow by, for example, mass wasting, can lead to nivation. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3410-4655 A material transformation process during which recently precipitated, powdery snow transitions into firn or névé through compaction and/or through cycles of freezing and thawing. envoPolar Link to mass wasting process. compaction process powdery snow material transformation process