Rock glaciers

• Main Authors: Janke, J.R., Bolch, Tobias
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2021
• Subjects: Climate change; Creep; Distribution; Field monitoring; Flow; Formation; Geospatial; Glacial; Hydrology; Periglacial; Permafrost; Photogrammetry; Remote sensing; Ice; ice core; permafrost
• Online Access: https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/rock-glaciers(31814cb1-bd4f-4b2a-8ea8-817defb1efdc).html; https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818234-5.00187-5; https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/10023/23979/1/Bolch_Preprint.pdf

Rock glaciers, a key element of alpine mountain geomorphic systems, consist of coarse surface debris that insulates an ice-core or ice-debris mixture. Rates of movement of active rock glaciers vary from 1 to more than 100 cm yr–1. Rock glaciers exist in all major mountain ranges where permafrost occurs but are more common in dryer climates with high talus accumulation rates. New geospatial techniques, high-resolution data sources, and improved technology will contribute to a better understanding of these landforms. This chapter provides an in-depth summary of important research findings pertaining to rock glaciers and offers insight to future research.