meltwater

Glacier's liquid offspring

Meltwater is water produced by melting snow or ice, especially from glaciers, ice sheets, or seasonal snowpack.

It feeds rivers and streams during spring thaw and plays a significant role in hydrology and climate science: Meltwater from the Himalayas supplies rivers across South Asia.

As glaciers retreat, meltwater contributes to rising sea levels.

thaw

snowmelt

Liquefied winter precipitation

permafrostPerpetually frozen earth layer
defrostRemove ice accumulation
seasonalRecurring at fixed intervals

spring · warming · temperature · transition · freeze-thaw · puddle · seepage · infiltration · slush · icicle

glacial

glacier

Slow-moving ice mass

icebergFloating glacial fragment
moraineGlacier-deposited debris pile
crevasseDeep glacial fissure

calving · firn · icecap · icefield · serac · subglacial · ablation · accumulation · drumlin · Greenland

hydrology

stream

Steady continuous flow

riverLarge flowing watercourse
tributaryStream entering larger river
watershedDrainage area boundary

drainage · aquifer · streamflow · discharge · floodplain · catchment · channel · confluence · sediment · erosion

meltwater

snowmelt

glacier

stream

meltwater

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