Mass-Movement Causes: Glacier Thinning

Glaciers have profound effects on the stability of slopes. Receding glaciers expose soils, commonly in steep slope positions. The soils are rapidly eroded and transported by debris slides and flows. Outburst floods from temporary lakes may also occur. Glaciers load bedrock, and following deglaciation stress release and slope relaxation from glacial debuttressing can result in a variety of bedrock landslides. As glaciers continue to recede in this century, we expect continued associated landslide activity.