A glaciers budget is balanced when ____.
A)additions to the zone of accumulation equal losses in the zone of wastage
B)losses in the zone of accumulation equal additions to the zone of wastage
C)the zone of accumulation receives more input than the zone of wastage
D)the zone of wastage does not lose material
E)the firn limit moves down in the summer and up in the winter

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A glacier's budget is balanced when additions to the zone of accumulation, where snow accumulates and turns into ice, equal losses in the zone of wastage, where ice melts, evapotranspires or sublimates. This means that the amount of ice that a glacier gains in the accumulation zone should be equal to the amount it loses in the wastage zone, for the glacier's mass to remain constant. Any imbalance between the two zones can cause a glacier to either advance or retreat. Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

A Glaciers Budget Is Balanced When ____