Rockglaciers are the visible expression of the creep of mountain permafrost. They are indicative of special geo-ecologic and geomorphic conditions regarding thermal situation, talus production, hydrology, and hazards in high mountain environments of all major mountain systems on earth. As relict features, they are of great paleoclimatic value. This book presents a systematic treatment of this landform in its environmental context.

1 Definitions.- 2 Historical Development of the Term Rockglacier.- 3 Rockglaciers: Description and Morphometry.- 3.1 General Description.- 3.2 Form Types.- 3.3 Morphometric Parameters.- 4 Rockglacier Taxonomy.- 5 Rockglacier Distribution.- 5.1 General Information.- 5.2 Local Rockglacier Distribution.- 6 Rockglacier Material, Surficial Fabric and Internal Structure.- 6.1 Rock Type and Grain Size at and below the Surface.- 6.2 Internal Structure.- 6.3 The Active Layer on Rockglaciers.- 7 Rockglacier Movement, Velocity, and Rheology.- 7.1 The Horizontal and Vertical Movement of Active Rockglaciers.- 7.2 Geometry of Movement.- 7.3 Rheologie Considerations.- 7.4 Rockglacier Movement and Climate.- 7.5 Discussion of Rockglacier Movement.- 8 Rockglacier Genesis and the Relation to Similar-Looking Landforms.- 8.1 Rockglacier Genesis.- 8.2 Published Hypotheses of Rockglacier Formation.- 8.3 True Rockglaciers under Wrong Labels.- 9 The Age of Rockglaciers.- 9.1 The Age of Active Rockglaciers.- 9.2 The Age of Climatic Inactive Rockglaciers.- 9.3 The Age of Relict (Fossil) Rockglaciers.- 10 Rockglaciers and the High Mountain Environment.- 10.1 Active Rockglaciers and Mountain Permafrost.- 10.2 Rockglaciers in the Coarse Debris Cycle.- 10.3 Rockglaciers and Climate.- 10.4 Rockglaciers in the Alpine Hydrological Cycle.- 10.5 Rockglaciers as Hazards in Alpine Environments.- 10.6 The Environment of Active Rockglaciers.- 11 Summary and Outstanding Problems.- 12 References.- Index of Place Names.