Failure Plane : The surface between two snow layers (usually cohesive slabs) which mechanically fails in either compression or shear or both. The failure plane is often the sliding surface (or bed surface) for a slab avalanche
CyberSpace Avalanche Center CSAC, Snow and avalanche glossary, http://www.avalanche-center.org/Education/glossary /, USA 1999. This glossary is an ongoing work in progress. It was originally scanned from a variety of print sources and reviewed and updated 2002. http://www.avalanche-center.org/phpBB2/, facilitates for Questions or suggestions on specific entries to be discussed on its forums. Moreover, A bit of background on avalanche cords and their track record can be found in the Avalanche FAQ on mountain-guiding.com. at http://www.mountain-guiding.com/faqs/faqmanager.cg i?toc=avalanche, (ND/ Avalan/ Snowpack - Amer) {37}