The glacial budget

• What shape do glaciers create?

  U shape
• How are glaciers measured?


  By probing methods and crevasses stratigraphy
• What is disequilibrium in the context of glaciers?

  It occurs when equilibrium is disturbed due to glacier advances and the firn line moving
• Where is the accumulation zone of a glacier located?

  At the upper end of the glacier
• Where is the ablation zone of a glacier located?

  At the lower end of the glacier
• What defines a glacial period?

  Periods when the Earth’s temperature is much colder, allowing glaciers to form
• What defines an inter-glacial period?

  When the annual temperature increases, resulting in less ice coverage
• What are the stages of diagenesis in glaciers?

  1. Snowflake
  2. Nivation
  3. Névé
  4. Firn
  5. Sintering
  6. Glacial ice
• What is the glacial budget?


  The total accumulation and ablation for a glacier
• What is mass balance in relation to glaciers?

  The difference between accumulation and ablation
• What is accumulation in the context of glaciers?

  The addition of mass onto a glacier
• What is ablation?


  The process of reduction of ice by melting
• When is a glacier in positive balance?

  When accumulation is greater than ablation
• When is a glacier in negative balance?

  When ablation is greater than accumulation
• When does negative feedback occur in glaciers?

  When a glacier advances
• What is equilibrium in the context of glaciers?

  When the rate of precipitation equals the rate of ablation
• What is dynamic equilibrium?

  When equilibrium is disturbed and the glacier undergoes self-regulation until restored
• What is a glacier table?

  A boulder on top of ice that protects ice from ablation
• What is the snout of a glacier?

  The lower end of the ablation zone
• What is the terminus of a glacier?

  The lowest end of the snout
• What is glacial recession?

  The shrinking of the snout
• What is glacial advance?

  The forward movement of the snout