Secrets beneath the Ice
Welcome to the Ablation Area
This is where the action begins. As ice starts to melt on the surface of the glacier or ice sheet, water doesn’t just sit there, it moves. This movement of water through, inside, and beneath the glacier is called the hydraulic system. It’s like a hidden plumbing network inside the ice sheet.
The three main parts of this system
​Supraglacial - Water on Top of the Ice
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Water from melting snow collects in lakes, streams and ponds on top of the glacier.​
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It might look calm, but this water can be dangerous. It’s the beginning of the hidden system.​
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Click on each of the pictures below to find out more.​​
Englacial - Processes inside the Ice​​​​​
Credit: www.AntarcticGlaciers.org
Cracks
Cracks
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Water from the surface falls through cracks or holes and starts flowing inside the glacier.
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These cracks grow and stretch as more water rushes through, like rivers in ice!
Subglacial – Beneath the Ice​​
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Finally, the water makes it to the bottom.
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It flows beneath the glacier like a hidden river, lubricating the base and making the glacier slide faster into the ocean.
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This process is the reason ice is melting and moving faster than expected.
