Glacial Hydrology of Glacier

Glacial Hydrology

Study of water around and within glaciers.

Permeability of Glacier Ice

Microscopic passages allow water to seep through.

Proglacial Hydrology

Hydrology occurring ahead of or downslope from glaciers.

Proglacial Lakes

Lakes formed primarily from glacial meltwater.

Ice-dammed Lakes

Lakes blocked by glacier ice preventing meltwater flow.

Paternoster Lakes

Linked tarns by streams, forming a chain of lakes.

Straight Streams

Single-channel waterways without islands.

Braided Streams

Streams with temporary islands separating water flow.

Supraglacial Hydrology

Hydrology occurring on the glacier surface.

Supraglacial Channels

Rivers and streams formed by surface meltwater.

Supraglacial Lakes

Lakes on glaciers, often not contributing to runoff.

Englacial Hydrology

Hydrology occurring within the glacier body.

Moulins

Vertical shafts draining supraglacial water into glaciers.

Subglacial Hydrology

Hydrology occurring beneath a glacier.

Subglacial Lakes

Freshwater lakes contained beneath ice sheets.

Lake Vostok

Largest known subglacial lake beneath Antarctic Ice Sheet.

Subglacial Channels

Water channels under glaciers parallel to ice flow.

Marginal Hydrology

Hydrology occurring near glacier edges.

Kame Terraces

Sediment deposits formed by marginal channels.

Postglacial Hydrology

Hydrology after glacier retreat or disappearance.

Tarns

Lakes formed in cirques, often small.

Misfit Streams

Streams disproportionate to the valleys they occupy.

Moraine-dammed Lakes

Lakes created behind moraines blocking water flow.

Overdeepened U-shaped Valleys

Valleys with deep basins often forming finger lakes.

Gorges

Deep cuts in valleys formed by rivers.