Genetic differences of rock glaciers and the discontinuous mountain permafrost zone in Kanchanjunga Himal, Eastern Nepal

A number of rock glaciers, including glacier‐derived and talus‐derived rock glaciers, were identified in Kanchanjunga Himal, easternmost Nepal. DC resistivity imagings were applied to representative rock glaciers of both types. The distribution of resistivity values in the subsurface within these rock glaciers was significantly different. A massive glacial ice body was found within the glacier‐derived rock glacier, suggesting this rock glacier originated from glacial dead ice (ice‐cored rock glacier). The lower limits of discontinuous mountain permafrost zone in Kanchanjunga Himal were inferred from the distribution of talus‐derived rock glaciers (ice‐cemented rock glaciers) and the estimated mean annual air temperature. The lower limit of the discontinuous mountain permafrost zone is 4800 m ASL on the north‐facing slopes, while 5300 m ASL on the south‐ to east‐facing slopes. These altitudes were considerably higher than those of the western Himalaya, which are under dry continental climatic conditions. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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