Ablation zone orablation area refers to the low-altitude area of aglacier orice sheet belowfirn with a net loss in ice mass. This loss can result frommelting,sublimation,evaporation,ice calving,aeolian processes likeblowing snow,avalanche, and any otherablation. The equilibrium line altitude (ELA) orsnow line separates the ablation zone from the higher-altitudeaccumulation zone.[1] The ablation zone often containsmeltwater features such assupraglacial lakes, englacial streams, andsubglacial lakes. Sediments dropped in the ablation zone forming small mounds or hillocks are called kames. Kame and kettle hole topography is useful in identifying an ablation zone of a glacier. The seasonally melting glacier deposits much sediment at its fringes in the ablation area. Ablation constitutes a key part of theglacier mass balance.
The amount of snow and ice gained in the accumulation zone and the amount of snow and ice lost in the ablation zone determine glacier mass balance. Often mass balance measurements are made in the ablation zone using snow stakes.
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