Mountain glaciers serve as crucial indicators of both past and present climate changes, making them essential to the study of mountainous regions. They play a significant role in water resource management, supporting human populations, agriculture, hydropower, and ecosystems, and also contribute to sea-level changes. The complexity of the interactions between glaciers, topography, and climate, however, poses challenges for making correlations on regional and hemispherical scales. This complexity is compounded by the increasing specialisation within the scientific community, where research often focuses on specific aspects or selected mountain regions.
The primary aim of this session is to bridge these gaps by stimulating discussion and promoting integrated research efforts on mountain glaciers. We invite contributions on various aspects of mountain glaciers and glaciations, such as (a) glacial landforms and glacier reconstructions, (b) dating techniques and glacier chronologies, (c) glaciology and palaeoclimatic interpretations, and (d) impacts on ecosystems and human societies. We especially encourage studies that address regional and hemispheric connections, issues, and advances.
The temporal scope of the session will cover Early Pleistocene glaciations through to the Last Glacial Maximum, and Holocene/modern glaciers. This session aims to foster ongoing collaborative research on mountain glaciations, providing a platform for the exchange of ideas and expertise among researchers from diverse locations and methodological backgrounds.