Abstract
In this study we aim to describe the processes leading to the creation of a specific periglacial and aeolian landsystem, which evolves around the hyaloclastite breccia boulders on James Ross Island, north-eastern Antarctic Peninsula. These boulders were deposited as a result of the Late Holocene advance of Whisky Glacier, forming a well-developed boulder train approximately 5-km long, stretching from Whisky Glacier moraine to Brandy Bay. The combination of ground temperature monitoring, snow cover measurements, grain size analysis and field survey were used to quantify and understand the interplay of periglacial and aeolian processes leading to the formation of the specific meso-scale landsystem around the boulders. The ground temperature probes were installed during January 2017 in the vicinity of two selected boulders. The two study sites, at Monolith Lake (large boulder) and Keller Stream (smaller boulder), were also fitted with snow stakes and trail cameras. An automatic weather station (AWS) on the Abernethy Flats, located approximately two kilometres to the north-west, was used as a reference site for ground temperature and snow cover thickness. The hyaloclastite breccia boulders act as obstacles to wind and trap wind-blown snow, resulting in the formation of snow accumulations on their windward and lee sides. These accumulations affect ground thermal regime and lead to the transport of fine particles by meltwater from the snow during the summer season. The snow cover also traps wind-blown fine sand resulting in the formation of fine-grained rims on the windward and lee sides of the boulders after the snow has melted. Furthermore, the meltwater affects ground moisture content, creating favourable, but spatially limited conditions for colonisation by mosses and lichens.
Highlights
Ice-free areas in Antarctica, in which periglacial processes dominate, form less than 0.5% of the continent (Burton-Johnson et al, 2016; Hrbáček et al, 2019)
In the Antarctic Peninsula region, the origin of sorted ground is related to the Late Pleistocene-Holocene deglaciation of the area (Ó Cofaigh et al, 2014); sorted ground in the early stage of development have been observed in areas that have become deglaciated during the last few decades (e.g. Oliva and Ruiz-Fernandéz, 2015)
We present the findings of a study investigating the interplay between periglacial and aeolian processes forming a specific landsystem around hyaloclastite breccia boulders on James Ross Island, Eastern Antarctic Peninsula
Summary
Ice-free areas in Antarctica, in which periglacial processes dominate, form less than 0.5% of the continent (Burton-Johnson et al, 2016; Hrbáček et al, 2019). Significant parts of the ice-free areas are formed by rock outcrops or nunataks, which prevent the development of soils. Sorted ground can be found covering the whole range of deglaciated surfaces in Antarctica, regardless of age. In the Antarctic Peninsula region, the origin of sorted ground is related to the Late Pleistocene-Holocene deglaciation of the area (Ó Cofaigh et al, 2014); sorted ground in the early stage of development have been observed in areas that have become deglaciated during the last few decades Mapping of periglacial landforms in the South Shetland Islands suggests that sorted ground form about 20% of all ice-free surfaces in this region (Lopéz-Martínez et al, 2012)
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