Melting - GCSE Geography Definition

Melting is the process where a solid changes into a liquid because of an increase in temperature. Melting occurs when heat makes the molecules in a solid move faster until they break free from their fixed positions. In geography, this is important when studying glaciers or ice caps, which melt into water when the temperature rises, and coastal flooding from the resulting sea level rise. Melting can be a natural process, like when the weather gets warmer in spring, or caused by human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, leading to global warming. Understanding melting helps us learn about climate change and its impact on our planet.