❓ why
Why do some glaciers and snowfields survive through summer while nearby slopes melt away?
ClimateGlaciers
Quick Answer
They survive where snowfall, shading, altitude, and slope shape allow more winter accumulation and less summer melting. In some places, avalanches also feed extra snow into protected basins.
The Full Story
Glaciers persist when annual snow gain exceeds annual melt over many years. North-facing slopes in the Northern Hemisphere, shaded cirques, and high-altitude basins can reduce direct solar heating. Wind can also pile snow into hollows, and avalanches may add extra accumulation. If a glacier’s balance stays positive or near balance, ice can survive summer even while neighboring surfaces become bare.
Key Facts
1.A glacier survives only when accumulation exceeds melt over time
2.Shade and topography can protect snow from summer sun
3.Avalanche-fed snow can help build glacier mass in mountain basins
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"Why can ice survive summer in one valley but vanish on the next slope?"