Ice Aprons in the Mont Blanc Massif (Western European Alps): Topographic Characteristics and Relations with Glaciers and Other Types of Perennial Surface Ice Features

Ice aprons are poorly studied and not well-defined thin ice bodies adhering to high altitude steep rock faces, but present in most Alpine-type mountain environments worldwide. This study aims precisely define based on a detailed analysis of their topographical characteristics the Mont Blanc massif (western European Alps). For this, we accurately identified mapped 423 using combination high-resolution optical satellite images from 2019. To better understand relationship with other types glaciers, especially slope glaciers surface bodies, built inventory at scale that incorporates nine different perennial bodies. In addition, an topographic factors helped us preferred locations aprons. We show they predominantly occur west-oriented topographically rugged slopes above local Equilibrium Line Altitude (~3200 m a.s.l.), concave profile curvatures around them facilitate snow accumulation. They also found areas underlain by permafrost. The extensive identify relationships glaciers/ice shows existing headwall large bergschrund dominant apron type area, ~82% total.