Randolph Glacier Inventory (RGI)
Quick answer: The Randolph Glacier Inventory provides the most comprehensive global dataset of glacier outlines with over 200,000 glaciers and area/volume attributes.
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Format
Shapefile / GeoJSON
Geometry
Polygon (glacier outlines)
Coverage
Global
Resolution
Glacier-level polygons
About this dataset
The most comprehensive global glacier outline dataset with over 200,000 glaciers, including area and volume attributes.
The Randolph Glacier Inventory (RGI) is the most comprehensive global inventory of glacier outlines. It includes over 200,000 glaciers worldwide with attributes including area, length, mean elevation, slope, aspect, and classification. The RGI is the standard reference for global glacier studies and is used by the IPCC for sea-level rise assessments.
How to download
- 1 Open the RGI download page at GLIMS.
- 2 Select the region or global dataset.
- 3 Download the shapefile for your area of interest.
- 4 Open in QGIS for glacier area and volume analysis.
FAQ
How many glaciers are in the RGI?
RGI 7.0 includes over 200,000 glacier outlines globally, covering approximately 700,000 km² of glacier area.
What attributes are included?
Each glacier entry includes area, length, mean elevation, slope, aspect, and classification by morphology type (valley glacier, ice cap, etc.).