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Observations on sorted circle development, Abisko, northern Sweden
Author(s) -
Kling Johan
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
permafrost and periglacial processes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.867
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1099-1530
pISSN - 1045-6740
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1530(199710/12)8:4<447::aid-ppp266>3.0.co;2-h
Subject(s) - geology , geomorphology , frost heaving , frost weathering , frost (temperature) , permafrost , texture (cosmology) , mineralogy , soil water , soil science , oceanography , artificial intelligence , computer science , image (mathematics)
Unusually high‐centred sorted circles can be found in front of perennial and late‐lying snow patches in Abisko, northern Sweden. Measurements were conducted over a two‐year period of frost heave, thaw settlement and lateral sorting of surficial clasts, together with studies of internal structure and texture. The result shows an internal structure composed of a massive upper layer and a lower one dominated by lens‐shaped pores, interpreted as remnants of ice lenses. The texture is characterized by an increase of clay at lower levels. Measurements of vertical soil displacement show less frost heave in the fine domain compared with the stony border. The net vertical movement after freezing and thawing is negative in the fine domain and positive in the stony border. The convex shape of the fine domain drives radial movement of surficial clasts and the uppermost soil layer. Differential frost heave with load casting is promoted as the genesis. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.