Hanging glacier

A hanging glacier in the Chugach Mountains.

A hanging glacier originates high on the wall of a glacial valley and descends only part of the way to the surface of the main glacier and abruptly stops, typically at a cliff.[1] Avalanching and icefalls are the mechanisms for ice and snow transfer to the valley floor below.[1]

Rock and icefall from a hanging glacier was responsible for triggering the Kolka-Karmadon rock ice slide in 2002, that killed 125 people.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Glossary of Glacier Terminology". United States Geological Survey.
  2. ↑ Lindsey, Rebecca. "Collapse of the Kolka Glacier". Earth Observatory. NASA.