The original version of this glossary was published almost 20 years ago in the landmark volume Glaciated Continental Margins: An Atlas of Acoustic Images (Bell et al. 1997). For the present volume, we have modified the text and added academically accepted terminology gleaned from the manuscripts submitted to the present Atlas of Submarine Glacial Landforms and from other sources.

By its nature, an atlas that illustrates acoustic images of glacimarine features and environments will incorporate a specialized vocabulary that covers many earth science disciplines. This revised glossary contains abbreviated non-technical definitions of commonly used terms to help the reader, as needed, understand the Atlas contributions, and to facilitate communications between specialists and others in the broader scientific community.

The majority of terms defined here are found in the papers contributed to the Atlas of Submarine Glacial Landforms. Other commonly used technical terms are also included to assist with wider reading, for example of papers in the cumulated bibliography to this Atlas. The glossary, therefore, provides a balanced sample of terminology currently used in technical publications. The context of the definitions that are provided is directed towards studies of past and present glacimarine environments and, in some cases, may not rigorously apply to other geological studies. In addition, we emphasize the common current usage of the terms, and do not state or attempt to trace their historical meanings.

Internet resources are now commonly available to assist the reader, and we have listed a short selection at the end of the Glossary. In compiling the glossary, we have consulted the dictionaries and glossaries that are listed in the ‘Written Sources’ section extensively, and have modified some of the definitions listed therein. For this glossary, however, we accept responsibility for any errors.

• Ablation: All processes by which snow or ice is …