Glossary

A definition will show up in this window whenever you select a key term from an Overview page. You can also find a key term manually by scrolling through the glossary or choosing a letter from the alphabetized menu below.

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Scroll down to see the "Z" terms

zone of ablation

The area of a glacier in which ablation (melting, sublimation, calving) subtracts from the glacier.

zone of accumulation

(1) The layer of regolith in which new minerals precipitate out of water passing through, thus leaving behind a load of fine clay; (2) the area of a glacier in which snowfall adds to the glacier.

zone of aeration

Unsaturated zone.

zone of leaching

The layer of regolith in which water dissolves ions and picks up very fine clay; these materials are then carried downward by infiltrating water.