Glacier Mass Balance Calculator

Formula

The formula to calculate the glacier mass balance (MB) is:

\[ MB = A - B \]

Where:

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.

Let's say the accumulation (A) is 500 units and the ablation (B) is 300 units. Using the formula:

\[ MB = 500 - 300 \]

We get:

\[ MB = 200 \]

So, the glacier mass balance is 200 units.