Are rock glaciers the next big thing?

Oct. 3, 2024
Image
Middle-Teton national park- rock Glacier

U.S. National Park Service

Our new consortium member Dr. Scott Hotaling was featured on All Things Considered from the National Public Radio (NPR). Dr. Hotaling discusses rock glaciers and how they are an important resource for arid states. These rock glaciers hold massive amounts of water and are twice as common as typical glaciers and permanent snow fields. However, little research is conducted on these resilient water stores. 

Dr. Hotaling’s work in the Teton mountain range is showing that regular glaciers are losing ice seven times faster than their neighboring rock glaciers. Thus, these rocky formations might be an extremely important water source in the future. 

You can listen to and read the story, Why the most climate-resistant glaciers are hiding in plain sight, on All Things Considered and learn more about rock glaciers from Dr. Hotaling on YouTube!