Ablation zone, the Glossary
Ablation zone or ablation area refers to the low-altitude area of a glacier or ice sheet below firn with a net loss in ice mass due to melting, sublimation, evaporation, ice calving, aeolian processes like blowing snow, avalanche, and any other ablation.[1]
Table of Contents
16 relations: Accumulation zone, Aeolian processes, Avalanche, Blowing snow, Evaporation, Firn, Glacier, Glacier mass balance, Ice calving, Ice sheet, Melting, Meltwater, Snow line, Subglacial lake, Sublimation (phase transition), Supraglacial lake.
Accumulation zone
On a glacier, the accumulation zone is the area above the firn line, where snowfall accumulates and exceeds the losses from ablation, (melting, evaporation, and sublimation). Ablation zone and accumulation zone are glaciology and glaciology stubs.
See Ablation zone and Accumulation zone
Aeolian processes
Aeolian processes, also spelled eolian, pertain to wind activity in the study of geology and weather and specifically to the wind's ability to shape the surface of the Earth (or other planets).
See Ablation zone and Aeolian processes
Avalanche
An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a slope, such as a hill or mountain.
See Ablation zone and Avalanche
Blowing snow
Blowing snow is snow lifted from the surface by the wind, at eye level or more, that will reduce visibility.
See Ablation zone and Blowing snow
Evaporation
Evaporation is a type of vaporization that occurs on the surface of a liquid as it changes into the gas phase.
See Ablation zone and Evaporation
Firn
Firn (from Swiss German firn "last year's", cognate with before) is partially compacted névé, a type of snow that has been left over from past seasons and has been recrystallized into a substance denser than névé. Ablation zone and firn are glaciology.
Glacier
A glacier is a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving downhill under its own weight. Ablation zone and glacier are glaciology.
Glacier mass balance
Crucial to the survival of a glacier is its mass balance of which surface mass balance (SMB), the difference between accumulation and ablation (sublimation and melting). Ablation zone and glacier mass balance are glaciology.
See Ablation zone and Glacier mass balance
Ice calving
Ice calving, also known as glacier calving or iceberg calving, is the breaking of ice chunks from the edge of a glacier. Ablation zone and ice calving are glaciology.
See Ablation zone and Ice calving
Ice sheet
In glaciology, an ice sheet, also known as a continental glacier, is a mass of glacial ice that covers surrounding terrain and is greater than. Ablation zone and ice sheet are glaciology.
See Ablation zone and Ice sheet
Melting
Melting, or fusion, is a physical process that results in the phase transition of a substance from a solid to a liquid.
Meltwater
Meltwater (or melt water) is water released by the melting of snow or ice, including glacial ice, tabular icebergs and ice shelves over oceans. Ablation zone and Meltwater are glaciology.
See Ablation zone and Meltwater
Snow line
The climatic snow line is the boundary between a snow-covered and snow-free surface.
See Ablation zone and Snow line
Subglacial lake
A subglacial lake is a lake that is found under a glacier, typically beneath an ice cap or ice sheet.
See Ablation zone and Subglacial lake
Sublimation (phase transition)
Sublimation is the transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas state, without passing through the liquid state.
See Ablation zone and Sublimation (phase transition)
Supraglacial lake
A supraglacial lake is any pond of liquid water on the top of a glacier.
See Ablation zone and Supraglacial lake
References
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ablation_zone
Also known as Ablation area, Zone of ablation.