Outwash plain

Outwash plain

A broad, low-slope angle alluvial plain composed of glacially eroded, sorted sediment (termed outwash), that has been transported by meltwater. The alluvial plain begins at the foot of a glacier and may extend for miles. Typically, the sediment becomes finer grained with increasing distance from the glacier terminus.

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Part of Speech: noun
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Blossary:
Industry/Domain: Water bodies
Category: Glaciers
Government Agency: USGS
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Related terms

outwash plain

Geography; Physical geography

A flat and gently sloping area of gravels, sands, silts and clays deposited beyond the snout of a glacier by meltwater issuing from it. Particles tend to be smoothed and rounded ...

outwash plain

Biology; Ecology

Flat layers of sedimentation left by melt from a retreating glacier. Some are arable.

outwash plain

Water bodies; Glaciers

A broad, low-slope angle alluvial plain composed of glacially eroded, sorted sediment (termed outwash), that has been transported by meltwater. The alluvial plain begins at the ...

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Natural environment; Coral reefs

Uniformly colored or unadorned with structures or other features.

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Earth science; Soil science

A large area of flat land with few trees. A broad, flat area of the sea floor or on the surface of the Moon.

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Earth science; Soil science

A flat, undulating, or even rolling area, larger or smaller, that includes few prominent hills or valleys, that usually is at low elevation in reference to surrounding areas, and ...

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Water bodies; Glaciers

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Water bodies; Glaciers

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Water bodies; Glaciers

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Water bodies; Glaciers

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glacial furrow

Water bodies; Glaciers

A linear depression, inches to miles in length, produced by the removal of rock or sediment by the erosive action of a glacier.

retreat

Water bodies; Glaciers

A decrease in the length of a glacier compared to a previous point in time. As ice in a glacier is always moving forward, its terminus retreats when more ice is lost at the ...