deglaciation
Glaciers melting away
Deglaciation is the melting and retreat of glaciers or ice sheets from a region.
The term appears in geological and climate contexts: The deglaciation of North America began about 20,000 years ago.
It can describe both ancient processes and contemporary ice loss due to climate change.
Increasing in temperature
- greenhouseClimate-controlled plant enclosure
- albedoSurface reflection coefficient
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
- polarOf extreme latitudes
icecap · ice sheet · cryosphere · global warming · carbon dioxide · methane · climate change · feedback loop
Glacier-deposited debris pile
- drumlinStreamlined glacial hill
- eskerSerpentine glacial gravel deposit
- kettleSpouted vessel for heating water
- outwashGlacier meltwater sediment
till · trimline · erratic · cirque · fjord · arête · hanging valley · roche moutonnée
Solid-to-liquid transition
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
- ablationRemoval by cutting, melting
- calvingIce mass separation
- thinningReducing density or number
recession · ice loss · meltwater · runoff · sublimation · disintegration · collapse · acceleration
Study of rock layers
- sedimentologyStudy of geological deposits
- geochronologyStudy of geological ages
- quaternaryFourth-order or four-bonded
- paleoclimatologyStudy of prehistoric climates
isostasy · rebound · unconformity · loess · fluvial · chronology · ice core
Following in order
- colonizationForeign territorial takeover
- migrationMovement to new territory
- vegetationPlant life collectively
- tundraFrigid treeless biome
boreal · temperate · biome · reforestation · soil formation · pioneer species · fauna · flora
Move to higher position
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- inundationOverwhelming surge of water
- coastalOf the shoreline
- floodingOverwhelming water accumulation
warming
Increasing in temperature
- greenhouseClimate-controlled plant enclosure
- albedoSurface reflection coefficient
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
polar · icecap · ice sheet · cryosphere · global warming · carbon dioxide · methane · climate change · feedback loop · tipping point
moraine
Glacier-deposited debris pile
- drumlinStreamlined glacial hill
- eskerSerpentine glacial gravel deposit
- kettleSpouted vessel for heating water
outwash · till · trimline · erratic · cirque · fjord · arête · hanging valley · roche moutonnée · striation
melting
Solid-to-liquid transition
thinning · recession · ice loss · meltwater · runoff · sublimation · disintegration · collapse · acceleration · mass balance
stratigraphy
Study of rock layers
- sedimentologyStudy of geological deposits
- geochronologyStudy of geological ages
- quaternaryFourth-order or four-bonded
paleoclimatology · isostasy · rebound · unconformity · loess · fluvial · chronology · ice core
succession
Following in order
- colonizationForeign territorial takeover
- migrationMovement to new territory
- vegetationPlant life collectively
tundra · boreal · temperate · biome · reforestation · soil formation · pioneer species · fauna · flora · biodiversity
rise
Move to higher position
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- inundationOverwhelming surge of water
- coastalOf the shoreline
- land changeslandslides, earthquake, erosion, landslide, earthquakes
- coastal floodingsea level rise, storm surge, king tide, king tides, high tide
- PrecambrianArchean, Proterozoic, stromatolites, craton, Ur
deglaciationglaciation
Ice sheet spreading process
glacial period · ice age · Little Ice Age · cooling period · nuclear winter
glacial, glacier, glaciation, glaciate, glaciology, interglacial