Rock glaciers are characteristic landforms associated with mountainous periglacial landscapes and generated by gravity-driven creep of (ice-rich) frozen ground (permafrost). Their location, characteristics and evolution are controlled by a combination of environmental (e.g. internal structure, topography, lithology, debris loading) and climate-dependent factors (e.g. thermal and hydrological regimes). Rock glaciers are highly relevant in various fields of research, such as geomorphology, hydrology, geohazards, paleo-permafrost and climate impact studies. Despite their significance, their complex interactions with environmental variables and the impact of climate change on their evolution remain incompletely understood.

In this open session, we welcome contributions from the entire rock glacier community reflecting the different focuses and ranging from observations to modelling, from geophysical to remote sensing methodologies, from site-specific to regional studies in diverse geographic regions of the World. We would especially like to stimulate discussions about innovative methodologies and interdisciplinary approaches, aiming to improve the understanding of past and/or present processes and to assess future rock glacier evolution.