The formula to calculate the glacier mass balance (MB) is:
MB=A−B
Where:
MB is the glacier mass balance
A is the accumulation
B is the ablation
Definition
Glacier Mass Balance: A measure of the gain and loss of ice from a glacier system. It is calculated as the difference between accumulation (the gain of ice and snow) and ablation (the loss of ice and snow, primarily through melting and sublimation). A positive mass balance indicates that a glacier is growing, while a negative mass balance indicates that it is shrinking. Monitoring glacier mass balance is crucial for understanding the health of glaciers and their response to climate change.
Example
Let's say the accumulation (A) is 500 units and the ablation (B) is 300 units. Using the formula:
