Glacial stream

A glacier stream is a channelized area that is formed by a glacier in which liquid water accumulates and flows.^[1] Glacial streams are also commonly referred to as "glacier stream" or/and "glacial meltwater stream". The movement of the water is influenced and directed by gravity and the melting of ice.^[1] The melting of ice forms different types of glacial streams such as supraglacial, englacial, subglacial and proglacial streams.^[1] Water enters supraglacial streams that sit at the top of the glacier via filtering through snow in the accumulation zone and forming slush pools at the FIRN zone.^[2] The water accumulates on top of the glacier in supraglacial lakes and into supraglacial stream channels.^[2] The meltwater then flows through various different streams either entering inside the glacier into englacial channels or under the glacier into subglacial channels.^[2] Finally, the water leaves the glacier through proglacial streams or lakes.^[2] Proglacial streams do not only act as the terminus point but can also receive meltwater.^[2] Glacial streams can play a significant role in energy exchange and in the transport of meltwater and sediment. ^[3]