Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 4 .1.
The frequency of some typical freeze-thaw cycles, variously defi ned, as recorded in different types of periglacial environments.
Location
Climatic Type
Ground
Cycles at
Cycles at
Cycles at
Defi nition of Cycle
Cycles
1.0-2.0 cm
5.0 cm
20 cm
Resolute Bay, Canada, 74° N
High Arctic
23
n.d.
0
n.d.
−
2 to 0 °C (28-32°F) (Cook and
Raiche, 1962)
Mesters Vig, Greenland, 72° N
High Arctic
23
n.d.
18
n.d.
Amplitude
≥
0 °C (Washburn, 1967)
Siberia
(a) Kolyma, 67° N
Continental - tundra
50
n.d.
n.d.
2
Temperature transitions across 0 °C
(Ushakova, 1986)
(b) Vilyusk, 63° N
Continental - taiga
94
n.d.
n.d.
2
(c) Krasnoyarsk, 56° N
Continental - taiga/steppe
59
18
14
4
Signy Island, 61°S
Low temperature range
19
4
+
0.5 to
−
0.5 °C (Chambers, 1966)
Front Range, Colorado, 39° N
Alpine (3750 m)
n.d.
9
n.d.
n.d.
>
0 °C and
<
0 °C within 24 hours
(Fahey, 1973)
Subalpine(3000 m)
n.d.
50
n.d.
n.d.
Japanese Alps, 35° N
Alpine (2800 m)
n.d.
88
n.d.
n.d.
−
2 to
+
2 °C (Matsuoka, 1990)
Terra Nova Bay 74°S
Antarctica
42
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
−
4.0 °C (French and Guglielmin, 1999)
n.d., not determined.
