Calligraphy on a glacier surface

The image shows the parts of the upper accumulation area of Tasman Glacier in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. The glacier surface is characterised by a highly crevassed area caused by a prominent bedrock structure in the glacier bed. But additionally rock debris on the surface is visible reminding of a sort of calligraphy. The rock debris originates from a massive landslide with its scar clearly visible on the mountain slope as part of the Malte Brun Range to the right. The deposit has already been dispersed and the event seems to have occurred some time ago. But at the base of the mountain flank, younger and quite fresh looking deposits form a cone-shaped feature and give evidence of subsequent smaller event. Mass movement events of highly variable dimensions are very common in the Southern Alps. They can, for example, be triggered by seismic activity, extreme climatic events, or paraglacial processes.