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Periglacial

Close to Glaciers
The periglacial environment
includes regions close to
glaciers. These regions are
dominated by freeze-thaw
processes.
How much force is necessary to crack the top
stone with lateral thrusting?

Periglacial Environment
This term was introduced to address the
landforms created in the environment
near a glacier.
This is the environment in which
alternate freeze-thaw impacts the
landscape. This need not be close to a
glacier.
Purpose of this lecture is to view the
landforms that are directly related to
freeze-thaw.
Permafrost one variable
One landscape
element of the
periglacial environment
may be permafrost.
The active layer occurs
yearly and contributes
to movement on
slopes, even very
gentle slopes.
Thickness is related to
climate over millennia.
Permafrost can be Absent
Freeze-thaw does not require
permafrost in the surface to alter the
landscape.

The map of frost-free days is an effort to
show where periglacial acitivity can
occur.
Where to Expect Freeze-Thaw
Latitude or Elevation
Climate drives the periglacial
environment. A northern (or southern)
latitude or an increase in elevation can
move you into the realm of serious
freeze-thaw.

Maps of Russia and Canada follow to
show you the extent of permafrost and
other areas impacted by freeze-thaw.
Russia and Nearby Countries
Canada & Permafrost
Dawson, Yukon Territory
Inuvik, NWT is Underlain by Permafrost
Tuktoyaktuk Housing
Truck in water and truck out the sewage to every house.
Old and New Same Problem
Any structure that
allows heat in the
structure to pass
intothe ground will
cause the permafrost
to thaw.
Support for the
structure is lost in
the water saturated
sediment and sinking
occurs.
Dempster Highway and Bridge
Note depth of roadbed.
Only bridge on 700km route.
Fairbanks, AK highway sign - common
Asphalt absorbs heat and thaws permafrost.
With and Without Permafrost
Inuvik bed for gas storage
Bod, Norway pipes - shallow
Functioning with Frozen Ground
Ice will form as long as
water is supplied. All of
the sediments above
the cat to the left are
frozen.
The Alaska
Pipeline
An engineering wonder
because it has not failed.
Engineering the AK Pipeline
Every support tower is a
refrigeration unit.
Buried the line beneath
streams. Why is this
easier than going over?
Periglacial Landforms: Small
Stone polygons
size varies. Water
must be present.
Inactive and active
vegetation is the key.
Active Stone Polygons
Depression is at 12,700 feet in the Sangre de Cristo Mtns, CO
Relict Stone Polygons
2800 transit shots
were taken to map
the distribution of
rock and vegetation
across this area of
stone polygons.
As slope changes,
a polygon changes
to a stripe.
Ute Creek, Colorado
Introduce Slope to Freeze-Thaw
On a slope the polygon
changes to a stripe.
An entire surface is
covered with evidence
of down-slope motion.
Stone Stripes a Freeze-Thaw Product
Sorting sediment by
size during freeze-
thaw creates visible
stone stripes.
Colorado
Yukon Territory
Periglacial Boulder Field in PA
South of glaciers rocks slid down frozen slopes.
Slope plus Water
Snow melt and precipitation provide the
water needed to create periglacial
processes and landforms.
Stone polygons, stone stripes, and a
variety of other surficial arrangements
(such as solifluction lobes) occur
whenever freeze-thaw occurs.
Without the presence of water,
periglacial freeze-thaw processes
cannot occur.
An Alpine Climatic Station
This graph of temperature
and precipitation for a site
above tree-line illustrates
the totally frozen period
and the very short period in
which no freeze-thaw
occurs.
krummholz
Alpine Bog Moving Down Hill

Rock Glaciers Large Forms
Rock glaciers can
be created by glacial
OR periglacial
processes.
They represent the
largest landforms
associated with the
movement of rock
debris to another
location.
California Rock Glacier, Sangre de
Cristos Mountains, CO
Falling debris loads the
surface; the weight cause
the entire mass to move to
a lower elevation.
Classic Glacial Rock Glacier
More Rock Glaciers - Glacial
Net effect moving rock debris
to a lower elevation.
Mt. Mestas, CO > 12,000 ft.
Fossil rock glaciers
have been found in
New Mexico, totally
covered with forest.
Type of rock contributes
to the slow addition of
vegetation to this
surface.
No instrumentation on it
to check change over
time.
Periglacial Rock Glacier
Mt. Mestas, CO
has never been
glaciated yet 23
rock glaciers can
be found around
it.
Rock glaciers
can be created
by different
processes.
Form and Process
Form and Process - Explanation
Rate of change is a function of process
not form.
Whereas we might be able to see
change in the form, the key question is
what process or processes caused the
form to change.
Form ONLY changes in response to
process.
Rock glaciers have not been found in
the rock record; they do not last forever!
Periglacial Geomorphology Conclusion:
Alternate freeze-thaw is capable of small
changes or big changes (stone polygons vs.
rock glaciers).
The process is driven by climate and the 9%
increase in volume as water is converted to
ice.
Permafrost need not be present to have a
periglacial environment; fossil landforms have
been preserved that reveal the extent of the
periglacial environment during glacial times.

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