The First Rock Glacier Inventory for the Greater Caucasus

Rock glaciers are an integral part of the periglacial environment. At regional scale in Greater Caucasus, there have been no comprehensive systematic efforts to assess distribution rock glaciers, although some individual parts ranges mapped before. In this study we produce first inventory from entire Caucasus region—Russia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. A remote sensing survey was conducted using Geo-Information System (GIS) Google Earth Pro software based on high-resolution satellite imagery—SPOT, Worldview, QuickBird, IKONOS, data obtained during period 2004–2021. Sentinel-2 imagery year 2020 also used as a supplementary source. The ASTER GDEM (2011) determine location, elevation, slope for all glaciers. Using manual approach digitize discovered that mountain range contains 1461 with total area 297.8 ± 23.0 km2. Visual inspection morphology suggests 1018 199.6 15.9 km2 (67% glacier area) active, while remaining appear be relict. average maximum altitude is found at 3152 96 m above sea level (a.s.l.) mean minimum 3009 91 2882 87 a.s.l., respectively. We find active higher (2955 98 a.s.l.) than relict (2716 83 a.s.l.). No clear difference discernible between surface (41.4 3°) (38.8 4°) region. This provides database understanding extent permafrost important basis further research geomorphology palaeoglaciology will submitted Global Land Ice Measurements Space (GLIMS) can future studies. It