Abstract
The occurrence of permafrost within glacial environments has never been comprehensively defined based on scientific evidence, despite its importance in determining how all the components of the cryosphere associate and interact. Here, the relation between glaciers and permafrost is discussed based on what scientific field they have been traditionally associated with. As the most accepted definition of permafrost is not exclusively linked to the presence of a geological medium, this can also be ice of any origin, including snow and glacial ice. Thus, active glaciers can act as permafrost medium. Indeed, all thermal types of glaciers meet the definition of permafrost as they remain at or below 0 °C for certainly more than two consecutive years. Active rock glaciers, regardless of the origin of the ice within, also meet the definition of permafrost. The presence of an active layer is not a prerequisite for the existence of permafrost either. Therefore, a comprehensive definition of permafrost occurrence across the cryosphere is essential to appropriately understand the phenomenon as a whole, not only as seen from our planet but also as it occurs for example on the icy moons of the Solar System and other frozen rocky bodies.
Highlights
Understanding the patterns of occurrence of permafrost within the glacial domain is key for cryosphere sciences as an essential component of the cryosphere
Both periglacial environment and glaciers include it in their composition as a thermal state and their research overlaps to some extent
The term permafrost describes a thermal state, not a state resulting from a phase change, while the term cryotic ground clearly delimits its definition in relation to concepts such as ice, water, freezing, and temperature, all aspects used to describe permafrost
Summary
Understanding the patterns of occurrence of permafrost within the glacial domain is key for cryosphere sciences as an essential component of the cryosphere Both periglacial environment and glaciers include it in their composition as a thermal state and their research overlaps to some extent. A common ground for the combined research of glaciers and permafrost is defined within ongoing discussion on how these environments link and interact The opinions on this discussion are divided; whilst some consider it an important issue to clarify, other researchers consider it a purely theoretical problem [1,2]. The term cryosphere refers to the combination of physical environments under cold conditions, defined as temperatures equal to or below 0 ◦ C This encompasses both ice as a material medium and freezing as a process. These include the historical context and a clarification regarding the glacier–permafrost relationship, to be applied by analogy to both the glacial and periglacial environment
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