Ablation (Q1172)
Subject, term, tag: Ablation
- Ablation (of glaciers, ice sheets, or snow cover)
| Language | Label | Description | Also known as |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Ablation |
Subject, term, tag: Ablation |
|
Statements
IPCC Glossary v1.5
1 reference
27 May 2026
All processes that reduce the mass of a glacier, ice sheet, or snow cover. The main processes are melting, and for glaciers also calving (or, when the glacier nourishes an ice shelf, discharge of ice across the grounding line), but other processes such as sublimation and loss of wind-blown snow can also contribute to ablation. Ablation also refers to the mass lost by any of these processes. (English)
IPCC Glossary v1.5
1 reference
27 May 2026