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Glacial streams are also commonly referred to as glacier stream and glacial meltwater stream. A glacier stream is a channelized area that is formed by a glacier in which liquid water accumulates and flows. The movement of the water is influenced and directed by gravity and the melting of ice. The melting of ice forms different types of glacial streams such as supraglacial, englacial, subglacial and proglacial streams. The water begins by accumulating on the glacier in supraglacial lakes. It then flows through different streams entering inside the glacier into englacial channels and under the glacier into subglacial channels. Finally, the water leaves the glacier through proglacial streams. Glacial streams can play a significant role in energy exchange and in the transport of meltwater.

Glaciers erode and deposit sediment by advancing and retreating. Erosion occurs by abrasion and plucking. These processes are dependent on a variety of factors such as plate tectonic movement, volcanic activity, and changes in atmospheric gas composition. Glacial erosion often causes U-shaped valleys to form. These valleys allow for directed water movement such as seen in glacial streams with meltwater. Subglacial fluvial erosion and glacial outwash occurs from the melting of the glacier and creates water flow that can wear bedrock. Glacial streams can range in width and height from a few centimeters to several tens of meters. The streams can be classified using three metrics: surface, incision and canyons. The incision and sinuosity is impacted by the discharge and slope. When the discharge and slope is greater, the incision is faster and sinuosity is higher. The sinuosity being higher means the valley between the top of the banks distance is greater. This causes formation of trapezoidal canyon like valleys. The stream slope is influenced by basal topography, ice thickness and flow and glacier ablation. A real life example of meltwater stream channel formation is shown in this video of the Fox Glacier.

Channel Formation

 * Abrasion: bedrock scraped by rock debris stuck in glacier
 * Plucking: glacial ice freezes and loosens bedrock, blocks of bedrock are extracted as the glacier moves
 * Subglacial fluvial erosion/glacial outwash: melting of glacier creates water flow that can wear bedrock
 * These processes are dependent on a variety of factors such as plate tectonic movement, volcanic activity, and changes in atmospheric gas composition
 * Glacial erosion often causes U-shaped valleys to form
 * Valleys allow for directed water movement (ie. glacial streams, meltwater)
 * Supraglacial streams can range in width and height from a few centimeters to several tens of meters.
 * Can be classified using three metrics: surface, incision and canyons.
 * The incision and sinuosity is impacted by the discharge and slope.
 * When the discharge and slope is greater the incision is faster and sinuosity is higher.
 * The sinuosity being higher means the valley between the top of the banks distance is greater. This causes formation of trapezoidal canyon like valleys.
 * Stream slope is influenced by basal topography, ice thickness and flow and glacier ablation. A real life example of meltwater streams channel formation is shown in this video of the Fox Glacier.