Rock glaciers on a rapid descent
Whether in Siberia, Alaska or the Alps – rising temperatures are affecting permafrost worldwide. In the high mountains, this can be seen in what are known as rock glaciers. These forms, reminiscent of lava flows, are a mixture of debris and ice that does not thaw on the inside all year round. They slowly creep downhill, whereby the rate of movement is mainly related to the thermal regime of the permafrost body. Based on long-term observation data, an international study has now shown for the first time for the entire Alpine region that the velocity of rock glaciers, which has increased overall since the 1990s, is a reliable climate indicator. The research results were recently published in the scientific journal "Environmental Research Letters".