Challenging the southern boundary of active rock glaciers in West Greenland

• Published in: Permafrost and Periglacial Processes
• Main Authors: Abermann, Jakob, Langley, Kirsty
• Other Authors: Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2022
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Greenland; Permafrost and Periglacial Processes
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ppp.2139; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ppp.2139; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/ppp.2139

Abstract Rock glaciers (RGs) are landscape features impacting the composition and magnitude of runoff and, given their ice content, they are used as indicators for past and present climate conditions. While our knowledge of RG coverage has improved over recent years in many mountainous regions, there is very little information available for RGs in Greenland. Here, we provide evidence for an active RG in West Greenland, about 230 km south of what previously has been identified as the southern limit of active RGs. We present field evidence such as bottom temperature of the snow pack and surface displacements and indicate how these results could be utilized in further studies to better assess RG distribution or their ice content.