A glacierʹs mass balance is determined by
A)ablation.
B)accumulation.
C)both accumulation and ablation.
D)neither accumulation nor ablation.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A glacier's mass balance is the difference between the amount of snow and ice that accumulates (accumulation) and the amount that melts or evaporates (ablation) over a given period of time. Therefore, a glacier's mass balance is determined by both accumulation and ablation. If accumulation is greater than ablation, the glacier will have a positive mass balance and will advance, whereas if ablation is greater than accumulation, the glacier will have a negative mass balance and will retreat.

A Glacierʹs Mass Balance Is Determined by