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Shallow ground temperatures and periglacial processes on Iztaccíhuatl volcano, Mexico
Author(s) -
Andrés Nuria,
Palacios David,
Zamorano José Juan,
VázquezSelem Lorenzo
Publication year - 2011
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/ppp.713
Subject(s) - geology , permafrost , volcano , snow , geomorphology , frost (temperature) , frost heaving , ground level , physical geography , geochemistry , geography , oceanography , architectural engineering , ground floor , engineering
Shallow ground temperatures and the extent of periglacial processes were examined and modelled on Iztaccíhuatl volcano (19°10′20″N, 98°38′30″W, 5230 m asl). Air and ground temperatures (to 0.6 m depth) were measured at five sites from 4137 m to 5020 m asl on the southwest slope of the volcano between 2001 and 2007. Snow lies on the ground for only a few days each year and has almost no effect on periglacial process distribution. Daily freeze‐thaw cycles at the ground surface are numerous at the summit (around 212 days annually), but cycles cease only a few centimetres below the surface, so that frost action does not occur below 60 cm depth. Permafrost is present at 4900 m asl on north‐facing slopes with a 60 cm thick active layer. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.