Final answer:
To trace the path of water from melting snow near a glacier, examine topographical gradients, river formation and flow influenced by landforms, eventually feeding into lakes or reaching the sea while integrating into the broader water cycle.
Step-by-step explanation:
To trace the path of water that begins as a trickle of melting snow near a glacier high in a mountain range, you would start by identifying the original location of the snow near the glacier. As temperatures rise, the snow melts into water, which may percolate through cracks in the ice before contributing to a stream. This stream follows the mountain's slope, initially dictated by the gradient, and influenced by the underlying landforms such as drumlins which indicate the historic flow of the glacier. The water may eventually feed into lake systems or, depending on geographic context, flow towards the sea.
The small trickle joins other trickles and becomes part of the mountain's runoff, evolving into a stream or river, moving with increasing volume and energy. River formation can be traced through the gradient measurements between points (e.g., A to B, B to C) on a topographical map, which can show elevation changes influencing water flow. Eventually, this water joins the greater water cycle, going through stages like evaporation, cloud formation, and precipitation.