Short Wave What The Heck Is A Rock Glacier?
Oct 11, 2024
Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR's science correspondent renowned for her insightful coverage of climate change, dives into the fascinating world of rock glaciers. She reveals that there are over 10,000 of these formations in the western U.S., often overlooked despite their significance. The discussion highlights their role in water supply and biodiversity, as well as the challenges researchers face in studying these hidden wonders. Nell also shares her hiking adventures to Utah’s rock glaciers, emphasizing their resilience amid climate change.
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Hike to a Rock Glacier
- Nell Greenfield-Boys and Scott Hotaling hiked to White Pine Lake in Utah to see a rock glacier.
- The hike was strenuous, but the lake's beauty and the glacier's unique appearance made it worthwhile.
Challenges of Studying Rock Glaciers
- Rock glaciers are challenging to study due to the thick layer of rocks covering the ice.
- This makes it difficult to access the ice for analysis, limiting research, especially in the US.
Rare Ice Sample
- Scott Hotaling's colleague found a natural hole in the rock glacier, revealing blue ice.
- They extracted a rare ice sample, only the second known from a rock glacier in the lower 48 US states.