deglaciation

noun

de·​gla·​ci·​a·​tion (ˌ)dē-ˌglā-shē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce deglaciation (audio)
-sē-
: the melting of ice
specifically : the retreat of a glacier or ice sheet
deglaciated adjective

Examples of deglaciation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The modeling predicts that deglaciation will occur at a similar rate until 2040, regardless of the climate scenario, the researchers found. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2023 In addition to limiting deglaciation, resources and focus should be given to protecting these newly forming ecosystems to secure their future, the researchers argued. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2023 In North America, where the extinctions that took the mastodons struck during a broader, millennia-long period of deglaciation, this background climate stress—which had proved survivable many times without humans on the landscape—suddenly became lethal. Peter Brannen, The Atlantic, 22 June 2022 The new chart should—among other things—provide greater resolution for the periods in which the last glaciation and deglaciation occurred. IEEE Spectrum, 24 Feb. 2023 There is supporting evidence from continental Europe, North America and Antarctica that volcanic activity also increased after earlier deglaciation cycles. Robin Wylie, Discover Magazine, 26 Sep. 2014 This rise happened from about 17,500 years ago to 11,700 years ago, causing the deglaciation that made Earth more habitable. Anil Ananthaswamy, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Feb. 2020 Which means that the 200 or so samples collected in the field will dramatically improve not only our understanding of past deglaciation events but also the potential futures these ice sheets might breed. Elizabeth Rush, National Geographic, 7 Mar. 2019 The Reef struggled with period of rapid deglaciation 17,000 and 13,000 years ago, respectively. David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 29 May 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deglaciation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of deglaciation was in 1895

Dictionary Entries Near deglaciation

Cite this Entry

“Deglaciation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deglaciation. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.

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