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Data Set ID: 
NSIDC-0770

Randolph Glacier Inventory - A Dataset of Global Glacier Outlines, Version 4

The Randolph Glacier Inventory (RGI) is a global set of glacier outlines; it is intended as a snapshot of the world’s glaciers. This data set provides a single outline for each glacier and is produced in coordination with the Global Land Ice Measurements from Space (GLIMS) initiative. The RGI is not suitable for measuring glacier-by-glacier rates of area change, but can be used to estimate glacier volumes, rates of elevation change at regional and global scales, and cryospheric responses to climatic forcing.

Glacier mapping data are contributed to both GLIMS and the RGI from the glaciological community. RGI is produced by the Working Group on the Randolph Glacier Inventory and Infrastructure for Glacier Monitoring, a body of the International Association of Cryospheric Sciences (IACS). This data set is updated approximately annually.

Glacier outlines are distributed as Shapefiles. Hypsometric data (CSV files) and gridded auxiliary data (GeoTIFFs) are also available. All RGI data are packaged globally and by region, with regions based upon the Global Terrestrial Network for Glaciers.

There is a more recent version of these data.

Version Summary: 

Changes in this version include:

  • Addition of topographic and hypsometric attributes for nearly all glaciers.
  • Addition of glacier dates, date ranges, names, and name corrections.
  • Addition of Alaska glacier inventory.
  • Subdivition of glacier complexes in Bolivia.
  • Addition of global grid of glacierized areas with a resolution of 0.5 degrees.
  • Addition of glaciers in the Greater Caucasus.

BASIC Level of Service

Data: Data integrity verified

Documentation: Key metadata and links to supporting documentation available

User Support: Assistance with data access and basic data usage

See All Level of Service Details

Parameter(s):
  • GLACIERS/ICE SHEETS > GLACIERS > GLACIER EXTENT
  • CRYOSPHERIC INDICATORS > GLACIAL MEASUREMENTS > GLACIER ELEVATION/ICE SHEET ELEVATION > Hypsometry
Data Format(s):
  • Shapefile
  • CSV
  • GeoTIFF
Spatial Coverage:
N: 90, 
S: -90, 
E: 180, 
W: -180
Platform(s):LANDSAT-5, LANDSAT-7, SPOT-5, Terra
Spatial Resolution:
  • Varies x Varies
Sensor(s):ASTER, ETM+, HRS, TM
Temporal Coverage:
  • 1 January 1950 to 31 December 2010
Version(s):V4
Temporal ResolutionNot applicableMetadata XML:View Metadata Record
Data Contributor(s):RGI Consortium, .

Geographic Coverage

Download Via HTTPS: An Earthdata Login account is required to access these data.

Once you have logged in, you will be able to click and download files via a Web browser. There are also options for downloading via a command line or client. For more detailed instructions, please see Options Available for Bulk Downloading Data from HTTPS with Earthdata Login.

As a condition of using these data, you must cite the use of this data set using the following citation. For more information, see our Use and Copyright Web page.

RGI Consortium, . 2014. Randolph Glacier Inventory - A Dataset of Global Glacier Outlines, Version 4. [Indicate subset used]. Boulder, Colorado USA. NSIDC: National Snow and Ice Data Center. doi: https://doi.org/10.7265/bse7-r330. [Date Accessed].
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Questions? Please contact:
NSIDC User Services
Phone: 1 303 492-6199
Email: nsidc@nsidc.org