"Crucial to the survival of a glacier is its mass balance..."
The difference between the amount of snow accumulation and ice loss for a glacier over a period of time.
"Climate change may cause variations in both temperature and snowfall..."
"A glacier with a sustained negative balance is out of equilibrium and will retreat..."
"Glacier retreat results in the loss of the low elevation region of the glacier."
"The disappearance of the lowest portion of the glacier reduces overall ablation, thereby increasing mass balance..."
"If the mass balance of a significant portion of the accumulation zone of the glacier is negative, it is in disequilibrium with the local climate."
"The key symptom of a glacier in disequilibrium is thinning along the entire length of the glacier."
"Easton Glacier will likely shrink to half its size, but at a slowing rate of reduction, and stabilize at that size..."
"The upper section of Easton Glacier remains healthy and snow-covered, while even the upper section of the Grinnell Glacier is bare, melting, and has thinned."
"Small glaciers with shallow slopes such as Grinnell Glacier are most likely to fall into disequilibrium if there is a change in the local climate."
"In the case of positive mass balance, the glacier will continue to advance expanding its low elevation area, resulting in more melting."
"If a glacier is near a large body of water, especially an ocean, the glacier may advance until iceberg calving losses bring about equilibrium."
"From 1980 to 2012 the mean cumulative mass loss of glaciers reporting mass balance to the World Glacier Monitoring Service is −16 m. This includes 23 consecutive years of negative mass balances."
"Changes in mass balance control a glacier's long-term behavior and are the most sensitive climate indicators on a glacier."
"Climate change may cause variations in both temperature and snowfall..."
"Such a glacier will melt away with a continuation of this local climate."
"Changes in mass balance control a glacier's long-term behavior and are the most sensitive climate indicators on a glacier."
"Since higher elevations are cooler than lower ones, the disappearance of the lowest portion of the glacier reduces overall ablation, thereby increasing mass balance..."
"If the mass balance of a significant portion of the accumulation zone of the glacier is negative, it is in disequilibrium with the local climate."
"If a glacier is near a large body of water, especially an ocean, the glacier may advance until iceberg calving losses bring about equilibrium."