Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

superglacial

American  
[soo-per-gley-shuhl] / ˌsu pərˈgleɪ ʃəl /

adjective

  1. on the surface of a glacier.

  2. believed to have been formerly on the surface of a glacier.

    superglacial debris.


superglacial British  
/ ˌsuːpəˈɡleɪsɪəl /

adjective

  1. on or originating from the surface of a glacier

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of superglacial

First recorded in 1885–90; super- + glacial

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There is no conflict of opinion with regard to glacial aggradation and the distribution of superglacial, englacial and subglacial material, which during the active existence of a glacier is finally distributed by glacial streams that produce very considerable alluviation.

From Project Gutenberg

Less commonly they were subglacial, and failed to be covered, and less commonly still superglacial.

From Project Gutenberg

Such deposits as were made by superglacial streams during the advance of the ice must likewise have been delivered on the land surface, but would have been subsequently destroyed or buried, becoming in the latter case, submorainic.

From Project Gutenberg

This would be likely to be the fate of all such superglacial gravels as reached the edge of the ice up to the time of its maximum advance.

From Project Gutenberg