nunatak

A nunatak is an isolated rocky hill or mountain that rises above the surrounding ice or snow of a glacier or ice sheet. The term "nunatak" is an Inuit word meaning "a stony summit." Nunataks are often found in polar and alpine regions where glaciers are present.

These geological features are formed when a glacier or ice sheet does not completely cover the underlying bedrock. As the ice advances and retreats over long periods, it carves away the landscape, but some higher peaks or ridges may remain exposed. These exposed areas act as refuges for life that cannot survive on the ice, such as certain plants and animals.

Nunataks can provide valuable insights for scientists studying past climates and glacial activity. The rock formations and any preserved biological material on a nunatak can offer clues about the environmental conditions that existed before and during glaciation. They are also important as potential locations for the survival of species during ice ages, acting as refugia from which life can re-colonize areas once the ice recedes. The study of nunataks is a part of glaciology and paleoclimatology.