IDENTIFYING ROCK GLACIER LANDFORMS IN THE GREATER YELLOWSTONE ECOSYSTEM: METHODOLOGY, TAXONOMY, AND A PRIMARY INVENTORY

Rock glacier taxonomy spans a spectrum from debris-covered glaciers to ice-saturated debris, but some landforms elude this dichotomy. This project examined rock glaciers in a portion of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem with a focus on origins and landform characteristics. Through this investigation, the need for an updated methodology emerged in response to rock glacier qualities that were previously unaccounted for. The methodologies applied in this study drew upon published rock glacier identification techniques and adapted existing procedures for the GYE. This paper presents a primary inventory of rock glaciers in the study area and provides an updated methodology for identification and classification of these landforms.