Glaciers Unveiled

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Questions and Answers

What is a glacier?

A glacier is a huge mass of ice that forms near the Earth's poles or on mountains.

What is accumulation and ablation?

Accumulation refers to the addition of snow and ice to a glacier, while ablation refers to the wastage or loss of ice from a glacier.

What is glacier mass balance?

Glacier mass balance refers to the difference between the amount of snow and ice accumulation and ablation on a glacier.

What is sublimation and calving?

Sublimation is the process of directly converting ice into water vapor, while calving is the process of ice breaking off from a glacier and forming icebergs. Signup and view all the answers

What is a glacier's terminus?

A glacier's terminus is the end or lower part of a glacier where it meets the surrounding land or water. Signup and view all the answers

What would happen if all the world's glaciers melted at once?

If all the world's glaciers melted at once, sea level would rise about 215 feet. Signup and view all the answers

How do glaciers form?

Glaciers form in areas where snow falls more often than it melts. The layers of snow build up and compress under the increasing weight, eventually turning into glacier ice. Signup and view all the answers

What is accumulation in relation to glaciers?

Accumulation refers to the addition of snow and ice to a glacier. Signup and view all the answers

What are some processes that contribute to accumulation?

Snowfall directly onto the glacier, freezing rain, wind-blown snow, and snow flowing onto the glacier via an avalanche. Signup and view all the answers

What is ablation?

Ablation refers to the removal of snow or ice from a glacier. Signup and view all the answers

What are some processes that contribute to ablation?

Melting, wind erosion, and calving (when large chunks of ice break off the glacier and fall into the water). Signup and view all the answers

What is sublimation?

Sublimation is the direct change from a solid to a gas. Signup and view all the answers

What is the terminus of a glacier?

The terminus is the leading edge or snout of the glacier. Signup and view all the answers

How do scientists determine if a glacier is retreating or advancing?

Scientists measure the location of the terminus. If the terminus does not travel as far as it previously did, the glacier is retreating. If the terminus moves forward faster than the rate of ablation, the glacier is advancing. Signup and view all the answers

What is the glacier mass balance?

The glacier mass balance is the balance between accumulation and ablation. If there is equal balance, the glacier is in equilibrium and does not change in size. If there is more growth than melting, the glacier has a positive mass balance and will advance. If there is a loss of mass due to faster wasting than growth, the glacier has a negative mass balance and will retreat. Signup and view all the answers

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