Slope morphology and slope‐forming processes in South Victoria Land, Antarctica

Abstract

Abstract Slope‐forming processes in South Victoria Land occur under the most severe climatic conditions. Very low temperatures are combined with extreme aridity which rarely permits surface runoff. In contrast to the situation in arctic regions, slope erosion and solifluction contribute little to the slope morphology. Varying locations within the area and varying bedrock types produce only minimal differences in slope form. The dominant similarities in slope form and talus cover are a product of slope angle. Solifluction lobes are rare, but one example on Nussbaum Riegel in Taylor Valley was investigated. Surface runoff occurs only when there is glacial meltwater during the brief summer, or where there is snowmelt near the coast. Despite the extreme aridity and a very shallow active layer mass wasting does occur on the slopes, as demonstrated by a series of examples. Measurements of the orientation of rock fragments on slope surfaces produced remarkably similar results to comparable investigations in soli...