There are a large number of rock glaciers in the Tibetan Plateau and surroundings. Because of its
unique water storage and climate response, rock glaciers not only affect the potential solid water resources in the
region, but also increase the risk of corresponding disasters, which has attracted more and more attention.
Currently, there is a lack of study on the identification of rock glaciers, ice volume estimation and simulation of
dynamic processes, which results in the inability to accurately assess changes in rock glaciers and their climate
response characteristics in regions with no or missing data.This review systematically analyzes the distribution
characteristics of rock glaciers in the Tibetan Plateau and surroundings, and comprehensively investigates the
research progress on the identification of rock glaciers, ice volume estimation, and dynamic processes. Due to the
lack of observation data and the uncertainty of methods, there still remain many challenges in rock glacier
identification, ice volume estimation and dynamic process simulation on the Tibetan Plateau and surroundings. In
the future, we will deeply understand the interaction mechanism between climate and dynamic processes of rock
glaciers, strengthen the multi-level, multi-angle and multi-method monitoring based on Space-Air-Ground, and
integrate artificial intelligence and new observation technology into rock glacier identification and ice volume
estimation methods. Then, we can accurately evaluate the changes, future trends and impacts of rock glaciers in
the Tibetan Plateau and surroundings under climate change conditions, serving the sustainable social and
economic development of the Tibetan Plateau and surroundings.