Névé is a young, granular type of
snow which has been partially melted, refrozen and compacted, yet precedes the form of ice. This type of snow is associated with
glacier formation through the process of
nivation. Névé that survives a full season of
ablation turns into
firn, which is both older and slightly denser. Firn eventually becomes glacial ice–the long-lived, compacted ice that glaciers are composed of. Glacier formation can take days to years depending on freeze-thaw factors. Névé is annually observed in
skiing slopes, and is generally disliked as an icy falling zone.