ablation zone

The ablation zone is a region on a glacier where ice loss occurs. This loss happens through processes like melting, evaporation, and the breaking off of icebergs (calving). In contrast, the accumulation zone is where the glacier gains mass, primarily through snowfall. The boundary between these two zones is known as the equilibrium line. Features characteristic of the ablation zone include curved bands called wave ogives, which form below icefalls due to variations in ice flow, and dirtband ogives, caused by trapped dust or snow. The ice in this zone often displays a layered structure, known as foliation, resulting from ice flow and recrystallization. Crevasses, which are common in both accumulation and ablation zones, can also be found here.123