Over 10,000 "rock glaciers" are in the western U. S. states, where this type of glacier outnumbers the regular ol' white kind. These rock-covered ice features have long been mostly ignored, but it turns out that they're much more resilient to warming temperatures, as all that rock acts as insulation. As other kinds of ice disappear, rock glaciers may be an important water source and a refuge for cold-loving species.

#geology #glaciers #climatechange
https://www.npr.org/2024/09/30/nx-s1-5109050/climate-resistant-glaciers-hold-water-cooler-temperatues
photo: M. Morriss