GLACIATION



A year in the life of a Northern hemisphere glacier in the Alps would have the following features:

January        Glacier covered in snowfall. No melting. Glacier mass increases. Snow mass increases.

May            Snowfall at altitude, and melting starting at the terminus. Snow mass increases. Mass constant.

July            Melting occurring in all areas. Little snowfall. Snow mass decreases. Firn and ice mass decreases. Total mass decreases.

August        Late snow falls, burying the summer surface. Ablation slows down. Snow mass increases (new). Total mass still declining.

October        Snow falls. Some melting lower down. Total mass increases.


 

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