The Periglacial Environment

PART ONE: THE PERIGLACIAL DOMAIN 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. The periglacial concept 1.2. Disciplinary considerations 1.3. The growth of periglacial knowledge 1.4. The periglacial domain 1.5. The scope of periglacial geomorphology Advanced reading Discussion topics 2. PERIGLACIAL LANDSCAPES? 2. 1 Introduction 2. 2 Proglacial, paraglacial or periglacial? 2. 3 Unglaciated periglacial terrain 2. 4 Relict periglacial landscapes 2. 5. Conclusions Advanced reading Discussion topics 3. PERIGLACIAL CLIMATES 3.1 Boundary conditions 3.2 Regional climates 3.3 Ground climates 3.4. Periglacial climates and the cryosphere. Advanced reading Discussion topics PART TWO: PRESENT-DAY PERIGLACIAL ENVIRONMENTS 4. COLD-CLIMATE WEATHERING 4. 1 Introduction 4. 2 Ground freezing 4. 3 Freezing and thawing 4. 4. The ground temperature regime 4. 5. Rock (frost?) shattering 4. 6. Chemical weathering 4. 7. Cryogenic weathering 4. 8. Cryobiological weathering 4. 9. Cryopedology Advanced reading Discussion topics 5. PERMAFROST 5. 1. Introduction 5. 2. Thermal and physical properties 5. 3. How does permafrost aggrade? 5. 4. Distribution of permafrost 5. 5. Relict permafrost 5. 6. Permafrost hydrology 5. 7 Permafrost and terrain conditions 5. 8. The active layer Advanced reading Discussion topics 6. SURFACE FEATURES OF PERMAFROST 6. 1. Introduction 6. 2. Thermal-contraction-crack polygons 6. 3. Organic terrain 6. 4. Rock glaciers and permafrost creep 6. 5. Frost mounds 6. 6. Active-layer phenomena Advanced reading Discussion topics 7. GROUND ICE 7. 1. Definition and description 7. 2. Classification 7. 3. Ice distribution 7. 4. Cryolithology and cryostratigraphy 7.5 Ice wedges 7. 6. Massive ice and massive-icy bodies 8. THERMOKARST 8. 1 Introduction 8. 2. Causes of thermokarst 8. 3. Thaw-related processes 8. 4. Thermokarst sediments and structures 8.5. Ice-wedge thermokarst relief 8. 6. Thaw lakes and depressions 8. 7. Thermokarst-affected terrain 8. 8. Man-Induced thermokarst Advanced reading Discussion topics 9. HILLSLOPE PROCESSES AND SLOPE EVOLUTION 9. 1. Introduction 9. 2. Slope morphology 9. 3. Mass wasting 9. 4. Slow mass-wasting 9. 5. Rapid mass-wasting 9.6 Slopewash 9.7. Frozen and thawing slopes 9. 8. Cold-climate slope evolution Advanced reading Discussion topics 10. AZONAL PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS 10. 1. Introduction 10. 2. Fluvial processes and landforms 10.3. Aeolian processes and sediments 10.4 Coastal processes and landforms PART THREE: WUATERNARY AND LATE-PLEISTOCENE PERIGLACIAL ENVIRONMENTS 11. QUATERNARY PERIGLACIAL CONDITIONS 11. 1. Introduction 11. 2. The time scale and climatic fluctuations 11. 3. Global (eustatic) considerations 11. 4. Pleistocene periglacial environments of high latitude 11. 5. Pleistocene periglacial environments of mid-latitude 11. 6. Conclusions Advanced reading Discussion topics 12. EVIDENCE FOR PAST PERMAFROST 12. 1. Introduction 12. 2. Past permafrost aggradation 12. 3. Past permafrost degradation 12. 4. Summary Advanced reading Discussion topics 13. PERIGLACIAL LANDSCAPE MODIFICATION 13. 1. Introduction 13. 2. Intense frost action 13. 3. Intense wind action 13. 4. Fluvial activity 13. 5. Slope modification Advanced reading Discussion topics PART FOUR: APPLIED PERIGLACIAL GEOMORPHOLOGY 14. GEOTECHNICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS 14. 1. Introduction 14. 2. Cold-regions engineering 14. 3. Provision of municipal services and urban infrastructure 14. 4. Construction of buildings and houses 14. 5. Problems of water supply 14. 6. Roads, bridges, railways and airstrips 14. 7. Oil and gas development 14. 8. Mining activities Advanced reading Discussion topics 15. CLIMATE CHANGE AND PERIGLACIAL ENVIRONMENTS 15. 1. Global change and cold regions 15. 2. Climate change and permafrost 15. 3. Future responses 15. 4. The urban infrastructure 15. 5. Conclusions Advanced reading Discussion topics References Index.