Glacier Mass Balance

Question 1

Glaciers mass balance

Answer 1

Difference between the amount of snow/ice accumulation and the amount of ablation in 1 year

Question 2

Accumulation zone

Answer 2

Glaciers gain mass in the accumulation zone (upper part of glacier where Input EXCEEDS output)

Question 3

Ablation zone

Answer 3

Mass is lost in the ablation zone (lower part of glacier where output EXCEEDS input)

Question 4

Equilibrium (with mass balance)

Answer 4

At the transition between the 2 zones, accumulation = ablation, this boundary is known as equilibrium. This decides the position of the snow line

Question 5

Accumulation > ablation

Answer 5

When a glacier gains more mass than it looses then the
Mass balance = positive

This causes the snout of the glacier to advance

Question 6

Accumulation < Ablation

Answer 6

If the mass balance is negative (looses more mass than the glacier gains) then the glaciers snout will retreat

Question 7

Accumulation = ablation

Answer 7

If the glacier neither gains or looses mass, the balance is zero and the snout remains stationary

Question 8

Factors that impact the mass balance

Answer 8

Climate change - demonstrated by the gradual and sustained release of all of the world’s glaciers over the past 150 years in response to global warming

Weather change - weather changing all year round effects the mass balance as it makes it not constant