Secrets beneath the Ice
This is the Accumulation Area
In the upper parts of a glacier, snow falls, builds up, compresses into tightly packed snow and eventually solid glacier ice. While the surface often looks calm and snow-covered, there’s a lot happening beneath. From hidden meltwater soaking into the snowpack to deep cracks and even reservoirs of liquid water, this zone plays a key role in how glaciers grow, store water, and respond to climate change.
Water Moves…and Freezes Again
Even in colder regions, some melting occurs during warm periods. Instead of running off, this meltwater trickles into the snow, often refreezing as it travels down. But..
Hidden Water Reservoirs
In places like Greenland, not all meltwater refreezes. Some forms water reservoirs beneath the snow. These reservoirs can last for years and slowly feed water into deeper glacier systems or even reach the base over time.
Cracks and Water Pathways
Though the surface is often snow-covered, cracks (called crevasse) still form in the accumulation zone. These cracks can channel meltwater from the reservoirs deep into the glacier, helping connect the surface to the bottom.
Quiet Surface, Powerful Processes
There aren’t dramatic melt lakes or streams like in the ablation zone, but the internal movement and storage of water has a big impact on how glaciers behave.
Why It Matters
​​The accumulation zone isn’t just where glaciers grow, it’s where water is stored, frozen, or hidden, shaping glacier health and influencing future sea level rise.
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Now that we know what processes dominate in the accumulation zone, let’s head to the next page to explore what new research has revealed and why all of this is very important.