Periglacial Research Articles

Cold Region Geomorphology in Japan

This paper reviews glacial and periglacial geomorphology and associated studies on physical geography and Quaternary geology, undertaken by Japanese researchers during the last three decades. Major progress has been achieved in two aspects. First, overseas fieldwork in a wide range of polar and alpine regions has promoted under - standing of present-day glacier and permafrost landforms, processes and sediments. The outcomes have greatly in- fluenced domestic research, improving the interpretation of past glaciation and periglaciation in Japan. Second, Japa- nese studies have made significant contributions to the international research communities in applying tephrochro- nology to dating tills and periglacial structures, proposing a distinct feature of glacial advances possibly reflecting climate conditions in eastern Asia, promoting comprehensive monitoring of periglacial processes and understanding periglacial processes in seasonal frost and marginal periglacial conditions.

Editoral - Glaciations and periglacial features in Central Europe

Editoral - Glaciations and periglacial features in Central Europe

Sensitivity and path dependence of mountain permafrost systems

Verleysdonk, S., Krautblatter, M. and Dikau, R., 2011. Sensitivity and path dependence of mountain permafrost systems. Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography, 93, 113–135. DOI: 10.1111/j.1468‐0459.2011.00423.xThis article is an attempt to transfer a classical geomorphological concept – the sensitivity concept by Brunsden and Thornes – onto mountain permafrost systems. Focus is put on the impulses applied on the system and its subsequent response. The system state, the ratio between sensitivity and resistivity, as well as all system components and the external impulses are understood to be variable in space and time. In order to address sensitivity and path dependence in mountain permafrost systems, not only the present system configuration but also their historical development and possible future attractors have to be analysed. Important elements are the system configuration, variable impulses and thresholds, processes and process rates and internal feedbacks. The Zugspitze in the Northern Calcareous Alps at the German/Austrian border is chosen as a test site for the applicability of the sensitivity concept on mountain permafrost systems due to the high quantity of research conducted there and the significant impact of climate change on the periglacial system. Further aspects include the consequences of the Eibsee Bergsturz event in 3700 bp in terms of path dependence and geomorphic response time. With this conceptual approach, we hope (1) to enhance the interlinkage between periglacial geomorphology and other sub‐disciplines of geomorphology, (2) to contribute to the strengthening of the conceptual basis of periglacial geomorphology, and, therefore, (3) to strengthen the possibilities for holistic exchange within the cryospheric research community.

The concept of cryo-conditioning in landscape evolution

Recent accounts suggest that periglacial processes are unimportant for large-scale landscape evolution and that true large-scale periglacial landscapes are rare or non-existent. The lack of a large-scale topographical fingerprint due to periglacial processes may be considered of little relevance, as linear process–landscape development relationships rarely can be substantiated. Instead, periglacial landscapes may be classified in terms of specific landform associations. We propose “cryo-conditioning”, defined as the interaction of cryotic surface and subsurface thermal regimes and geomorphic processes, as an overarching concept linking landform and landscape evolution in cold regions. By focusing on the controls on processes, this concept circumvents scaling problems in interpreting long-term landscape evolution derived from short-term processes. It also contributes to an unambiguous conceptualization of periglacial geomorphology. We propose that the development of several key elements in the Norwegian geomorphic landscape can be explained in terms of cryo-conditioning.

The influence of nivation and cryofraction on periglacial relief formation on Velebit Mt. (Croatia)

The peak areas of the Velebit mountain range display an interesting periglacial geomorphology. The appearance of forms is the result of the interdependent geological, geomorphologic, climatic, vegetational and pedological characteristics of the area. The structural and lithological properties of the rock complex, and the inclination of the slope, play a significant role in periglacial relief modelling. Climatic elements are also important, as they influence the intensity and duration of the processes. Low temperatures and relatively high precipitation during the last ice age (Würm III), served to intensify the activity of periglacial processes and relief modelling of the entire Velebit area. Nivation and cryofraction are the predominant periglacial processes which are represented by snow avalanches and stone streams. Air temperatures and soil temperatures (at 30, 60, 90 cm depth) were measured, presented and reviewed, together with other attributes and the slope inclination of the area. The interactions between ground temperature, snow cover and wind patterns play important roles in frost action. In addition to slope inclination, the penetration of warm winds (jugo) and warming of snow on the NE slopes are also important factors in destabilizing the snow cover and triggering avalanches. Snow avalanches are most intensive on slopes with declinations from 35° up to 50°, especially on the parts without vegetation cover.

Periglacial geomorphology of El Miro area, Cantabrian Mountains, NW Spain

Periglacial geomorphology of El Miro area, Cantabrian Mountains, NW Spain

From climatic to global change geomorphology: contemporary shifts in periglacial geomorphology

Abstract Periglacial geomorphology developed in the 1940s–1960s as a branch of climatic geomorphology, focusing first on Quaternary studies and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions, then on current geomorphic activity in cold regions. The ‘periglacial fever’ of the 1960s–1970s was dominated by the ‘freeze–thaw dogma’: periglacial areas were regarded as necessarily submitted to efficient frost-driven processes ruling over the geomorphic activity. Such a view was severely criticized in the 1980s–1990s based both on monitoring studies and on time–space multiscale approaches that pointed to the need to cross the ‘smokescreen of the periglacial scenery’ to search for the real past and present processes responsible for the landform geometry. The role of non-cold-related processes in the making of ‘periglacial’ landcapes was re-evaluated, and the necessity to better take into account the rock properties and the pre-Quaternary history of slope systems was emphasized. Whereas the part of the cold-related processes was being minimized, the interest of genuine periglacial landforms as geoindicators of climate change was growing, providing a new legitimacy to periglacial geomorphology. Polar and Alpine regions are nowadays considered as key observatories of ongoing climate change, and periglacial geomorphologists are involved in the detection, monitoring and prediction of environmental changes. Finally, the evolution of ‘periglacial geomorphology’ over the past six decades is in accordance with the development of the whole geomorphology. Based on the quantitative and technological revolution, it tends to find a balance between the functional and historical approaches.

The periglacial landscape at the Phoenix landing site

The Mars Scout mission Phoenix landed in the northern high latitudes of Mars in an area thought to be dominated by subsurface ground ice, and has provided a unique detailed examination of periglacial morphology and topography that is not visible from orbit. The landing site and surrounding terrain is dominated by polygonal patterned ground typical of the Martian northern plains. The polygons exhibit a gentle U‐shaped trough and rounded mound topography, with an average trough depth of 17 cm and an average surface slopes of only 6.7°. Polygons an average 4.3 m across form a pattern superimposed on all other geologic landforms, including larger 20–25 m polygons and kilometer long linear ridges. The polygon morphology and the predominance of subsurface ice‐cemented soil are consistent with the formation of subsurface “sand wedges” in a permanently frozen arid climate. Small‐scale soil furrows and cracks into the ice‐cemented soil indicate that the thermal contraction process responsible for the formation of the polygons is active today. Rocks appear to be sorted within the polygon troughs, indicating a process of cryoturbation within the permanently frozen polygons. The complexity of the patterns, crosscutting relations, and rock distributions, indicate advanced maturity of the polygon networks and shifting crack patterns, possibly facilitated by crack and wedge annealing during times of low obliquity.

Nature and origin of a Pleistocene-age massive ground-ice body exposed in the Chapman Lake moraine complex, central Yukon Territory, Canada

A massive ground-ice body was found exposed in the headwall of a thaw flow developed within the Chapman Lake terminal moraine complex on the Blackstone Plateau (Ogilvie Mountains, central Yukon Territory), which is contemporaneous to the Reid glaciation. Based on visible cryostructures in the 4-m-high headwall, two units were identified: massive ground ice, overlain sharply by 2 m of icy diamicton. The nature and origin of the Chapman Lake massive ground ice was determined using cryostratigraphy, petrography, stable O–H isotopes and the molar concentration of occluded gases (CO 2, O 2, N 2 and Ar) entrapped in the ice, a new technique in the field of periglacial geomorphology that allows to distinguish between glacial and non-glacial intrasedimental ice. Collectively, the results indicate that the Chapman Lake massive ground ice formed by firn densification with limited melting–refreezing and underwent deformation near its margin. Given that the massive ground-ice body consists of relict glacier ice, it suggests that permafrost persisted, at least locally, on plateau areas in the central Yukon Territory since the middle Pleistocene. In addition, the d value of Chapman Lake relict glacier ice suggests that the ice covering the area during the Reid glaciation originated from a local alpine glaciation in the Ogilvie Mountains.

Altitudinal levels and altitudinal limits in high mountains

In lowlands climate-specific processes due to weathering and erosion are dominant, whilst the geomorphology of mountains is dependent on the geologic-tectonic structure, i.e., the energy of erosion that increases according to the vertical. The expression “extremely high mountains” has been established as the extreme of a continuous mountain classification. It has to be understood in terms of geomorphology, glaciology and vegetation. Correspondence of the planetary and hypsometric change of forms is of great value as synthetic explanation. It is confirmed with regard to vegetation, periglacial geomorphology and glaciology. Due to the world-wide reconstruction of the snowline its paleoclimatic importance increases, too. Apart from lower limits the periglacial and glacial altitudinal levels also show zones of optimum development and climatic upper limits in the highest mountains of the earth. According to the proportion of the altitudinal levels a classification as to arid, temperature and humid high mountains has been carried out.

New insights into periglacial geomorphology

After almost a century of research, periglacial geomorphology remains a dynamic discipline: facing the contemporary issue of global warming, its research matter is in constant renewal and improved understanding of the dynamics of cold areas is growing. The scientific meeting “Shifting lands: new insights into periglacial geomorphology”, held in Clermont-Ferrand, France, January 20–22 2005, was a place to discuss some advances in this field of research, especially periglacial dynamics and perm...

Vertical geomorphologic zonation on the Northwest Sichuan Plateau and the effects of mountain hazards on the West Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project

Vertical geomorphologic zoning on the Northwest Sichuan Plateau is obvious and elevations for different geomorphologic zones are: fluvial zone3800m;glacial margin zone 3800-4200m;and glacial zone4200m.Their correspondent principal geomorphologic processes are water erosion,thawing erosion and glacial erosion.The plateau terrain was formed as a result of the thawing erosion under the conditions of vast expanse tectonic uplift.Crystalline rocks of granite and limestone have higher strength against thawing erosion than Triassic epimetasediment rocks of sandstone and slate.Therefore,crystalline rocks are able to form high glacial mountains while Triassic epimetasediment rocks are not.However,Triassic epimetasediment rocks are prone to form hilly plateau terrain.The 1~(st) stage subproject of the West Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project is basically located along the boundary between the fluvial zone and the peri glacial zone,landslides,rock-falls and thawing solifluctions are major slope failure hazards and most of those hazards are of small-medium scales.There are a number of debris flow gullies where small-medium scale debris flows occur frequently in the project area,however,large scale debris flows may occur in the gullies of the fluvial zone.Thawing solifluctions are the main river sediment sources in the area and attentions should be paid to the effects of their sediment production on silting of the planned reservoirs.Geomorphologic processes are very sensitive to climate changes in the boundary area between the fluvial zone and the periglacial zone.

Modelling patterned ground distribution in finnish lapland: an integration of topographical, ground and remote sensing information

New data technologies and modelling methods have gained more attention in the field of periglacial geomorphology during the last decade. In this paper we present a new modelling approach that integrates topographical, ground and remote sensing information in predictive geomorphological mapping using generalized additive modelling (GAM). First, we explored the roles of different environmental variable groups in determining the occurrence of non‐sorted and sorted patterned ground in a fell region of 100 km2 at the resolution of 1 ha in northern Finland. Second, we compared the predictive accuracy of ground‐topography‐ and remote‐sensing‐based models.The results indicate that non‐sorted patterned ground is more common at lower altitudes where the ground moisture and vegetation abundance is relatively high, whereas sorted patterned ground is dominant at higher altitudes with relatively high slope angle and sparse vegetation cover. All modelling results were from good to excellent in model evaluation data using the area under the curve (AUC) values, derived from receiver operating characteristic (ROC) plots. Generally, models built with remotely sensed data were better than ground‐topography‐based models and combination of all environmental variables improved the predictive ability of the models. This paper confirms the potential utility of remote sensing information for modelling patterned ground distribution in subarctic landscapes.

La géographie mondiale, le congrès de Stockholm et le Canada

The history of international geographical congresses can be divided in three periods, from 1871 to 1914, from 1922 to 1939, and since 1946. The most recent congress, which took place in Stockholm in 1960, was one of the most important ever beld. About 700 papers were presented at Stockholm, either in the Sections or in the Official Commissions. The most numerous papers were those dealing with human geography, economic geography, geomorphology, hydrography, periglacial geo-morphology and the teaching of geography. Of these 700 papers, only 15 were read by Canadian geographers, against 154 by American and 98 by Russian geographers. Still, this was the most important participation by Canadian geographers in any international geographical meeting ; however even if there bas been a marked progress since Canada's first participation at Venice in 1881, this is still not sufficient for a country with an international vocation like Canada. The main steps to take to improve the situation would be more, and especially more geographic, research, the preparation of special issues of Canadian geographical periodicals for every congress and the holding of an international geographical congress in Canada in 1968 or in 1972.

Périglaciaire du Canada : idées nouvelles et perspectives globales

Periglacial conditions which occur in Canada have been studied recently. Most of the research has been so jar limited in scope (mostly patterned ground and permafrost), undertaken for practical purposes (v.g. airport strips and the new Aklavik's site) and often carried by governmental agencies. Though a hundred titles or so of various articles and notes could be cited in a bibliographical survey of the topic, it must be underlined that the inventory of periglacial phenomena itself is still jar from being completed. This paper, prepared for the Canadian Committee of the International Commission of Periglacial Geomorphology, is based on a broad conception of the topic. The author suggests a useful series of new analytical concepts and outlines new fields for future research. The paper deals with three major aspects of periglacial studies : processes, datation and regions. Some of the processes and conditions are : terrain, wind, vegetation, the climatic « facies » (frozen ground, snow, air temperature and floating ice System). The author feels that all periglacial phenomena in Canada can be classified within a chronological sequence which he makes an attempt to establish as follows : a) Lower and Middle Wisconsin ; b) Pleniwisconsin ; c) Finiwiscon-sin ; d) Late Glacial ; and, e) Recent. Canada, in the opinion of Dr. Hamelin, can be divided into eleven periglacial « provinces ». The first jour provinces : Elizabeth, Victoria, Keewatin and Innuit are closely associated with continuous permafrost. Three provinces, Hudson, Labrador and Mackenzie, are situated in the periarctic zone. Two, Alberta and Saint-Laurent, have a southern situation along the parallel 50°N. Finally, two provinces : Yukon and Columbia, lie within the limits of Western Cordillera. These eleven provinces are proposed to serve for the designation of periglacial types or regimes throughout the cold regions of the world. The paper concludes with a glossary of new terms suggested for adoption.

North American Periglacial Geomorphology as a Branch of Geocryology: A Brief History

Permafrost studies first developed as part of the science of geocryology in Russia in the early part of the 20th century. Periglacial geomorphology emerged in the 1950s as a branch of a European-dominated climatic geomorphology. Since then, periglacial geomorphology in North America has become increasingly concerned with permafrost-related process studies and is now viewed by some as a branch of geocryology. The recent development of North American cryostratigraphy allows inferences to be made regarding paleoenvironmental conditions while traditional Pleistocene-oriented periglacial geomorphology has been largely replaced by Quaternary science. The danger exists that North American periglacial geomorphology will cease to be a recognizable sub-branch of geomorphology.

Geomorphology. Critical concepts in geography. Series editor: David J. A. Evans Volume V: Periglacial geomorphology. Edited by Hugh M. French. Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, London and New York, 2004, 641 pp. Volume V (ISBN 0-415-27613-6)

Geomorphology. Critical concepts in geography. Series editor: David J. A. Evans Volume V: Periglacial geomorphology. Edited by Hugh M. French. Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, London and New York, 2004, 641 pp. Volume V (ISBN 0-415-27613-6)

The use of CORONA images in remote sensing of periglacial geomorphology: an illustration from the NE Siberian coast

CORONA images have been used for the mapping of periglacial features on the Bykovsky Peninsula and adjacent Khorogor Valley in northeast Siberia. Features, mapped and analysed within a geographical information system, include thermokarst depressions, thermo-erosional valleys, thermo-erosional cirques, thermokarst lakes, thermokarst lagoons and pingos. More than 50% of the area is strongly influenced by thermally-induced subsidence. Thermokarst in the area is probably less active today than in the early-middle Holocene. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Present-Day Periglacial Environments in Central Spitsbergen, Svalbard

This report overviews observations on periglacial geomorphology in central Spitsbergen, which have been undertaken by the Japanese geomorphological groups. Focus is given to permafrost-related processes, including solifluction, thermal contraction cracking and pingo growth. Annual freeze-thaw action dominates the ground, resulting in extensive occurrence of solifluction and shallow landslides on soil slopes. Solifluction shows low surface velocity but large volumetric transport, which respectively reflects infrequent diurnal frost creep and deep movement. The latter partly originates from plug-like flow in the basal active layer, where permafrost temperature is low and muddy sediment is thick. Non-sorted polygons with a wide range of diameters develop on lowlands. In colder inland terrains, large polygons (>7m) have ice wedges, whereas smaller polygons have only soil wedges or cracks confined to the active layer. Significant ice-wedge cracking occurs during rapid and intensive cooling in midwinter. In warmer coastal terrains, ice wedges are not common even below large polygons, because higher winter temperature can produce only shallow cracks. Open-system pingos occur in valley bottoms and near shores. Some pingos are still growing under a low artesian pressure fed by constant supply of sub-permafrost water. Following lateral river erosion, a new frost mound emerged at a side of a pingo, reaching 3m high during three years. The observations demonstrate that central Spitsbergen is situated in a High Arctic but relatively warm permafrost environment. The transitional condition between cold and warm permafrost allows diverse periglacial features to coexist within a small area. Even minor climatic change can switch the two thermal regimes, affecting significantly the type and magnitude of periglacial processes.

Making the most of new instrumentation

AbstractThe paper presents the view that new instrumentation needs to fuel, but also serve rather than dominate, development of theory in periglacial geomorphology. The variety of periglacial environments, the variable nature of the spatial and temporal signals within periglacial environments, and the scale limitations inherent to instrumental investigations, all combine to focus attention on small‐scale geomorphological investigations. Integration of such findings, that is scale‐linkage, is a difficult, but essential, task that requires development of rigorous theory which is unlikely to be directly informed by the results of instrumental studies alone. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.