Transcript Rock Glaciers Rebecca Franklin

Rock Glaciers
Rebecca Franklin
In this Presentation…
Nomenclature, Definitions
 Genesis
 Locations in U.S.
 Environmental Implications of Rock
Glaciers
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Indicators of Geoecology…
“Without good classification most
science would be unable to progress…”
(Kemeny 1959)
But the nomenclature has been…
“Confusing”
“Frustrating”
“Fraught with Contention”
Criteria on which Classification has
been based

Morphology

Topographic Position

Genetic (formation process)

Dynamics
Can these be mutually exclusive?
MORPHOLOGY
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Tongue shaped (L:W >1)
Lobate (L:W <1)
Ice cored moraines
Debris covered glaciers
Complex
TOPOGRAPHIC POSITION
Valley floor
 Valley wall
 Protalus
 Morainic
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GENETIC
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Glaciogenic
Avalanche debris
Gelifluction debris
Ablation complexes
Talus
Moraine
Avalanche
DYNAMICS
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Active
Inactive
Fossil
Ice cored moraines
(deformation of a
permafrost core)
Tend to be site specific
“An accumulation of any rock debris, usually with
distinct ridge and furrow patterns and steep front
and side slopes whose length is generally greater than
its width; existing on a valley floor.”
“
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Best to be defined on morphology and location
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This will lead to better assessment of environmental
implications of rock glaciers
Aiken Rock Glacier
White Mountains, CA
Chugach Mtns, AK
Ouray, Colorado
“Turfing up”
Colorado
Talkeetna Mountains, AK
White Mountains, CA
(E and W trending valleys)
Great Basin National Park, NV