glacier mass balance

Glacier mass balance measures the difference between the snowfall a glacier receives and the ice it loses through melting, sublimation, or calving. When snowfall exceeds melting, the glacier gains mass and grows; when melting exceeds snowfall, it loses mass and shrinks. This balance indicates the glacier’s health and responds to climate conditions. Monitoring mass balance helps scientists understand how glaciers are changing globally, serving as indicators of climate change and influencing sea levels.