1. Rock Glaciers Rebecca Franklin

2. In this Presentation… Nomenclature, Definitions Nomenclature, Definitions Genesis Genesis Locations in U.S. Locations in U.S. Environmental Implications of Rock Glaciers Environmental Implications of Rock Glaciers Indicators of Geoecology… Indicators of Geoecology…

3. Without good classification most science would be unable to progress…” (Kemeny 1959) Nomenclature has been… “Confusing”“Frustrating” “Fraught with Contention”

4. Criteria on which Classification has been based Morphology Morphology Topographic Position Topographic Position Genetic (formation process) Genetic (formation process) Dynamics Dynamics Can these be mutually exclusive?

5. MORPHOLOGY Tongue shaped Tongue shaped Lobate Lobate Ice cored moraines Ice cored moraines Debris covered glaciers Debris covered glaciers

6. TOPOGRAPHIC POSITION Valley floor Valley floor Valley wall Valley wall Protalus Protalus Morainic Morainic

7. GENETIC Glaciogenic Glaciogenic Avalanche debris Avalanche debris Gelifluction debris Gelifluction debris Ablation complexes Ablation complexes Talus Talus Moraine Moraine Avalanche Avalanche

8. DYNAMICS Active Active Fossil Fossil Ice cored moraines Ice cored moraines (deformation of a permafrost core) (deformation of a permafrost core) Tend to be site specific

9. “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.” Best to be defined on morphology and location Best to be defined on morphology and location This will lead to better assessment of environmental implications of rock glaciers This will lead to better assessment of environmental implications of rock glaciers

10. Aiken Rock Glacier White Mountains, CA

11. Chugach Mtns, AK

12. Ouray, Colorado

14. “Turfing up” Colorado

15. Talkeetna Mountains, AK

16. White Mountains, CA (E and W trending valleys)

17. Great Basin National Park, NV