Glacier vs. Snowfield — What's the Difference?

A glacier (US: or UK: ) is a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight. A glacier forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries.

A large expanse of snow, especially at the head of a glacier.

A huge mass of ice slowly flowing over a landmass, formed from compacted snow in an area where snow accumulation has exceeded melting and sublimation.

A large permanent expanse of snow on a mountain or at the head of a glacier.

(geology) A large body of ice which flows under its own mass, usually downhill.

A permanent wide expanse of snow

An immense field or stream of ice, formed in the region of perpetual snow, and moving slowly down a mountain slope or valley, as in the Alps, or over an extended area, as in Greenland.

A slowly moving mass of ice