Hanging glacier

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A hanging glacier on Mount Shuksan. Mount Shuksan Hanging Glacier White Salmon Glacier.jpg
A hanging glacier on Mount Shuksan.

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, which killed 125 people. [2]

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Kolka may refer to:

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References

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