The ice sheet outflow ending in Russell Glacier is bounded on the north by the
tundra highland of
Isunngua and on the south by an exposed, barren, flattened
ridge of Akuliarusiarsuk. Several
meltwater outflow streams from the base of the glacier form the
Akuliarusiarsuup Kuua river, which flows west-southwest towards Kangerlussuaq. The
sandur basin of the outflow river forming the valley of the same name () is very shallow; shallow enough to form
quicksand fields several kilometers long. Directly to the west of the glacier is a large lake, the 2x10km
Aajuitsup Tasia. Due to the minimal height differential, its waters are not conjoint with the meltwater outflow lake immediately to the west of Russell Glacier. A sibling, unnamed glacier approximately to the southeast of Russell Glacier is the source of the wide outflow meltwater river of
Qinnguata Kuussua. The
confluence of the latter and the Akuliarusiarsuup Kuua river flowing from Russell Glacier is located at the eastern outskirts of the Kangerlussuaq settlement near the end of
Kangerlussuaq Fjord, and used to be known as Watson River. ==Methane cycling below the glacier==