subglacial

adjective

sub·​gla·​cial ˌsəb-ˈglā-shəl How to pronounce subglacial (audio)
: of or relating to the bottom of a glacier or the area immediately underlying a glacier
subglacially adverb

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Previously, this method has found subglacial lakes in Antartica, Greenland, and the Canadian Arctic. Mark Zastrow, Discover Magazine, 28 Sep. 2020 Examples include Julia Christmann’s PhD work on the calving of ice shelves, and another degree project that modeled the evolution of the subglacial channels that carry meltwater from the surface to the ice base. IEEE Spectrum, 27 Jan. 2023 How much ash a subglacial eruption might generate cannot be guessed. Robin Wylie, Discover Magazine, 10 Sep. 2014 This new research on the subglacial river used radar data from aircraft flying over Antarctica. WIRED, 8 Nov. 2022 In that scenario, crevasses would open up in the glacial ice during the summer, allowing water to pour down to the bedrock, supercharging the subglacial hydrology. WIRED, 8 Nov. 2022 This is significant because subglacial lakes in this area are two to 15 meters (6.6 to 49 feet) deep. Katie Hunt, CNN, 5 May 2022 These eyes in the sky also look for ponds of surface meltwater, conduits that carry seasonal drainage and subglacial lakes. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 19 Apr. 2022 There are also the many scientific breakthroughs made by women in the Antarctic, from discovering a series of active subglacial lakes to initiating the use of autonomous ocean gliders to take ocean measurements in tough-to-reach waters. Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Mar. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'subglacial.' 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

1820, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of subglacial was in 1820

Dictionary Entries Near subglacial

Cite this Entry

“Subglacial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subglacial. Accessed 1 Apr. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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