"Surface meltwater" refers to the water that is formed when ice or snow on the surface of a solid object, such as a glacier or a roof, melts. Full definition
Since then, remote observations show the surface depression has been rising, in part from surface meltwater flowing back into the lake and raising the ice. (scientificamerican.com)
«The DIC lakes are situated within bedrock troughs in mountainous terrain, exist at temperatures well below the pressure - melting point, do not receive surface meltwater input, and likely consist of hypersaline water derived from dissolution of a surrounding salt - bearing geological formation,» the researchers reported. (techtimes.com)
Fresh surface meltwater makes the upper layers of the Southern Ocean lighter. (ldeo.columbia.edu)