Top 10 Commonly Confused Words in Glaciology

Top 10 Commonly Confused Words in Glaciology 1. Glacier vs. Iceberg: The Difference Glacier and iceberg are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different things. A glacier is a large mass of ice that forms on land, while an iceberg is a piece of ice that breaks off from a glacier and floats in the water. So, glaciers are found on land, while icebergs are in the water. Remember, glacier for land, iceberg for water. 2. Ablation vs. Accumulation: The Balance Ablation and accumulation are two processes that determine the overall size of a glacier. Ablation refers to the loss of ice through melting, evaporation, or calving. On the other hand, accumulation is the gain of ice through snowfall. The balance between these two processes determines whether a glacier is growing or shrinking. So, think of ablation as the loss and accumulation as the gain. 3. Firn vs. Ice: The Transition Firn and ice are two stages in the transformation of snow into glacier ice. When snow falls, it's fluffy and porous.