Meltwater

Melt water accumulates after the cold period of snow and ice melt in streams and rivers. The outflow of water often results in the spring and summer flood or flooding, depending on the extent of the catchment area, temperature changes and adventitious rainfall.

Meltwater in the narrow sense refers to the glaciers Glaciology the resulting water (see glacier melt).

Subdivisions

  • Intraglaziäres melt water is produced in the crevasses of the ice area.
  • Subglaziäres meltwater in channels at the bottom of the glacier. The tremendous pressure of the ice can melt the ice ( see phase diagram).
  • Supraglaziäres meltwater produced on the glacier surface by heat of the sun or the ambient temperature at the end of the tongue. For this water also arise so-called " finger lakes ".
  • Proglaziäres melt water forms at the glacier snout and exits as glacial stream.

Effects

The melt water in Greenland and in the Antarctic can lead to climatic changes. In addition, it leads to an increase in sea level. Thus, even beyond the ice shelf, such as the snow and Eisdatenzentrum ( NSIDC ) noted in Boulder (Colorado) harmless meltwater in Antarctica.

715833
de