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

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A glacier's mass balance is determined by both accumulation (the addition of snow and ice) and ablation (the loss of ice through melting, sublimation, and calving). The difference between accumulation and ablation determines whether a glacier is gaining or losing mass overall.

A Glacier's Mass Balance Is Determined by