deglaciation

[dee-gley-shee-ey-shuhn, -see-]

noun

Geology.

1. the gradual melting away of a glacier from the surface of a landmass.

deglaciation

1. The uncovering of land that was previously covered by a glacier. Deglaciation occurs when a glacier melts.

Word History and Origins

Origin of deglaciation¹

First recorded in 1890–95; de- + glaciation ( def. )

Example Sentences

"If this continues, it will lead to total deglaciation by the 2040s," the authors explained.

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“If this continues, it will lead to total deglaciation by the 2040s,” it warned.

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“Their current retreat rates are higher than the global average. If this continues, it will lead to total deglaciation by the 2040s,” it says.

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"What makes 79N so important is the way it's attached to the interior ice sheet, and that means that one day - if the climate warms as we expect - this region will probably become one of the major centres of action for the deglaciation of Greenland."

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Now we are strongly forcing the system, with atmospheric CO2 concentration and global temperature increasing at rates that are an order of magnitude higher than those during the most recent deglaciation.

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