First Advisor

Andrew G. Fountain

Term of Graduation

Fall 2020

Date of Publication

12-30-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.) in Geology

Department

Geology

Language

English

Subjects

Rock glaciers -- West (U.S.) -- Classification, Rock glaciers -- West (U.S.), Geomorphology

DOI

10.15760/etd.7509

Physical Description

1 online resource (viii, 129 pages)

Abstract

Rock glaciers are flowing geomorphic landforms composed of an ice/debris mixture. A uniform rock glacier classification scheme was created for the western continental US, based on internationally recognized criteria, to merge the various regional published inventories. A total of 2249 rock glaciers (1564 active, 685 inactive) and 7852 features of interest were identified in 10 states (WA, OR, CA, ID, NV, UT, ID, MT, WY, CO, NM). Sulfur Creek rock glacier in Wyoming is the largest active rock glacier (2.39 km2). The mean area and elevation for active and inactive rock glaciers are 0.18 km2, 3384 m; and 0.20 km2, 3072 m, respectively. Mean elevation increases from the northwest in Washington State, ~1670 m to the southeast, in Colorado ~4100 m. Rock glaciers are found in climates with similar temperatures, ±1oC, and drier ~ 50% compared to alpine glaciers. Few rock glaciers occur in locations where precipitation exceeds 1200 mm. The total volume of ice in rock glaciers in the western US is about 6.99 ± 0.278 km3, which is about half of that contained in the glaciers, 12.37 km3.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/34669

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