Abstract
Periglacial landforms are typical features of the high mountain environment on the Balkan Peninsula. Their formation and diversity is determined by climatic, topographic and geological factors. Presently active periglacial processes occur above 1700-2000 m a. s. l., while relict features are observed down to 1100-1400 m a. s. l. Among the most prominent periglacial landforms are the extensive talus screes and fans, the numerous rock glaciers (especially in Rila, Pirin, Shar and Prokletije Mountains) – considered mostly relict – and nivation features (nivation cirques, long-lasting snow patches), as well as cryo-clastuc landforms (stone seas and strips). The present study aims to focus on the importance of geological conditions (bedrock composition and structure, tectonic settings) for the diversity and style of periglacial landforms – a factor, whose role has often been underestimated. The analysis and the derived conclusions are based mainly on regional and local comparisons between the high mountains throughout the peninsula.
Highlights
Periglacial landforms are characteristic features in areas where frost heave predominates or was predominating in certain past periods
During the Holocene, and throughout previous interglacials, when glaciation was limited to a small number of sites of a peculiar topography in the high mountain glaciokarst areas of Prokletije, Durmitor and Pirin, while all other areas were deglaciated, active cryogenesis had been predominating above 1900-2000 m a. s. l. in the eastern areas of the Balkan Peninsula (Velchev, 2020), above 1700-1800 m in the central parts (Nešić et al, 2012) and above 1400-1500 m a. s. l. in the farther west (Perica et al, 2002)
The present paper aims to provide an overall review of the typical periglacial features in the mountains of the Balkan Peninsula, and to assess the controlling effect of geology through comparisons between various sites
Summary
Periglacial landforms are characteristic features in areas where frost heave predominates or was predominating in certain past periods. That altitude drop is most expressed in snowrelated processes (nivation, avalanche activity, snow patches), while the lower limit of frost-related processes and forms exhibit much smaller altitude change with longitude, since those are more temperature dependent. Both relict and contemporary forms exist in the high mountain zone. Too much snow is not favourable for frost-related processes, as thick snow cover isolates the surface from diurnal air temperature variations In this context, the topography is another important factor on a local scale: periglaciation on ridges and open slopes is much more intense than in cirques and depressions (Gachev, 2017; Mitkov, 2020). The present paper aims to provide an overall review of the typical periglacial features in the mountains of the Balkan Peninsula, and to assess the controlling effect of geology through comparisons between various sites
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