ClimateAugust 27, 2026

supraglacial

SOO-pruh-GLAY-shul

Definition

Located or occurring on the surface of a glacier.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'supra' meaning 'above' and the Latin 'glacies' meaning 'ice'. It entered English to describe geographical or geological features situated on top of glacial ice masses.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe ponds resting on top of glaciers that coalesced and burst, triggering catastrophic downstream flooding.

The day after catastrophic flash flood, Nepal contemplates enormous cost of climate change

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