coldbased

Cold-based, written as a single word or hyphenated as cold-based, is a term used in glaciology to describe a glacier whose base remains at or below the freezing point relative to the bedrock year-round. In such glaciers, basal melting and sliding are minimal or absent, so the ice moves primarily by internal deformation rather than by sliding along the bed.

Movement in cold-based glaciers tends to be slower and more limited than in warm-based (temperate) glaciers. Because the base remains frozen to the bed, subglacial water is scarce and basal lubrication is reduced. This reduces the glacier’s capacity for abrasion and erosion of the bed, leading to more conservative landforms and better preservation of underlying bedrock features.

Erosion and landform development differ from those produced by warm-based glaciers. Cold-based glaciers typically generate limited quarrying or abrading activity, often preserving delicate bedrock structures and leaving sharper, less smoothed topography. They may respond more to climate-driven changes at the surface, such as snowfall and accretion, than to basal meltwater dynamics.

Distribution and occurrence are greatest in polar regions and high-elevation mountains where mean annual temperatures remain well below freezing. Examples are found in parts of the Antarctic interior and some high mountain glaciers, where cold-based conditions prevail for most of the year.

In climate discussions, the term highlights how subglacial conditions influence glacier dynamics. As temperatures rise, some glaciers may transition toward warmer, more slide-dominated behavior, altering erosion patterns and moraines. See also: warm-based glaciers.