The upper part of a glacier, the part with perennial snow and ice, is called the __.
A) zone of accumulation
B) zone of wastage
C) zone of ablation
D) recharge zone
E) discharge zone

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The zone of accumulation is the upper part of a glacier where the ice and snow accumulate and form the perennial ice field that feeds the glacier. It is the part where snowfall exceeds melting or sublimation, resulting in a net gain of ice. The zone of wastage, on the other hand, is the lower part of the glacier below the snowline, where melting, calving, or evaporation exceeds snow accumulation, resulting in a net loss of ice. The zone of ablation refers to the entire section of the glacier where there is a net loss of ice through melting, sublimation, and calving. The recharge zone and discharge zone are terms usually used in hydrology related to groundwater flow, and not specific to glaciology.

The Upper Part of a Glacier, the Part with Perennial