Rock glacier (Q973)
Subject, term, tag: Rock glacier
| Language | Label | Description | Also known as |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Rock glacier |
Subject, term, tag: Rock glacier |
Statements
IPCC Glossary v1.5
1 reference
27 May 2026
A debris landform (mass of rock fragments and finer material that contains either an ice core or an ice-cemented matrix) generated by a former or current gravity-driven creep of permafrost in mountain slopes (Harris et al., 1988; Giardino et al., 2011; IPA-RG, 2020). It is detectable in the landscape due to the occurrence of (i) a steep slope delimiting the terminal part, (ii) generally well-defined lateral margins in a continuation of the front, and (iii) transversal or longitudinal ridges and furrows (ridge and furrow topography). These are geomorphological indicators of the occurrence of permafrost conditions. Although it is an ice storage feature, it is not a type of glacier since it does not originate at the surface by the recrystallization of snow. (English)
IPCC Glossary v1.5
1 reference
27 May 2026