PERIGLACIATION

Distribution of Permafrost
20% of
worlds
surface is
underlain by
permafrost
Types:
1. Continuous
2. Discontinuo
us
3. Sporadic
all
associated
with mean
annual
temperature
s

Above the
permafrost is the
active layer the
layer that
seasonally
thaws. The
depth of this
layer depends
on the heat it
receives

Periglaciation:Permafrost
near to or on the fringe of

an ice mass
Active Layer
Continuous
Permafrost
Talik

Periglaciation:- Distribution of
Permafrost
Lower Angle of incidence =
less sunlight

UK Lat

Periglacial Processes and Features

Processes
Ice Crystals and
lenses(frost heave)
Ground Ice

Ground Contraction
Freezing of Ground water

Frost Shattering
Snow

Frost Shattering

Meltwater

Nivation
Solifluction
Streams

Wind

Windblown

Landforms
Sorted stone polygons
(stone cycle and
stripes: patterned
ground)
Ice wedges with
unsorted polygons:
patterned ground
Pingos.
Blockfield, talus/scree
slope, tors
Hollows
Solifluction Lobes
Braided rivers, dry
valleys
Loess

Processes and Features

Ice crystals and

lenses
Sorted Stone
Polygons(stone
circles)
Frost heave pushes
stones to the surface
which roll down the
sides.

About 1 metre
across

Processes and Features

Stones
The soil and stones
move upwards due
to ice crystal and
frost heave

Ground Surface due to

heave
Ground Level in
Winter
Ground Level in
Summer
Frost Heave

The soil move

downwards due to
melting but ice
crystal beneath
stones stop them
returning to original
position.
Stones roll down to
the bottom of the
slope forming a
circle.

Ground Level in
Summer

Processes and Features

Stone Stripes

Stone Circles form on a

gentle slope and slowly
move down the slope,
stretching the circles into
lines. Image pulling an
elastic band!!!!

Processes and Features

Stone Stripes

Stone Circles form on a

gentle slope and slowly
move down the slope,
stretching the circles into
lines. Image pulling an
elastic band!!!!

Processes and Features

Ground Contraction
Ice Wedges and

patterned ground

Processes and Features

Freezing of Ground

Water
Pingos
50 m high

500 m diameter

Pingo

not Pingue

Processes and Features

Pingos

Frozen lake insulates

ground

Permafrost

Unfrozen
Talik

Permafrost

ICE CORE

Advancing
Permafrost

Ice core

Advancing
Permafrost

Ice core expands

upwards due to increased
hydrostatic pressure

Processes and Features

Pingos

Processes and Features

Collapsed Pingo
As the rupture
Pingos ice core
is subjected to
heat it collapses,
creating
Collapsed Pingo.
A rampart or
pond is left.

Processes and Features

Weathering
Physical

Weathering

Frost shattering
creates a Sea of Rock
called a FELSEN
MEER

Water enters cracks and

joints, freezes, expands
(9%) repeatedly causing
rock to frost shatter.

Processes and Features

Mass Movement
Solifluction Lobes
Soil Creep

Soil thaws, becomes

waterlogged and lobes of soil
move down slope slowly.