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GELIFLUXION [1 record]

Filter results by subject field Alphabetical list of terms

Filter results by subject field

Alphabetical list of terms

Record 1 2011-07-12

English

Subject field(s)
  • Geomorphology and Geomorphogeny
  • Glaciology
DEF

The slow, continuous downslope movement of rock debris and water-saturated soil that occurs above frozen ground, as in most polar regions and in many high mountain ranges.

OBS

The process of debris movement in periglacial regions has been variously defined and a number of terms have been suggested. First J.G. Anderson (1906) proposed the term "solifluction" (solum-soil, fluere-flow) for slow movement of debris, soaked with water, from higher to lower slopes. Solifluction term was replaced by "congelifluction" of J. Daylik (1951) to incorporate only soilflow in the periglacial climate having permafrost lying below an active layer. K. Bryan (1946) used the term "cryoturbation" which included all types of mass-movement of regolith under periglacial environment. Recently, "gelifluction" is used in place of "congelifluction."

OBS

Gelifluction only occurs in areas of permafrost, in contrast to solifluction, and may give rise to gelifluction flats and gelifluction terraces.

Key term(s)
  • gelifluxion

French

Domaine(s)
  • Géomorphologie et géomorphogénie
  • Glaciologie
DEF

Forme de solifluxion provoquée, lors du dégel, par la lente inhibition de matériaux argila-limoneux en une eau fournie par la fusion du manteau neigeux ou de lentilles de glaces interstitielles.

OBS

Ce processus affecte les versants couverts par la toundra ou la pelouse du domaine ou de l'étage périglaciaires.

OBS

La saturation des matériaux argileux est obtenue avec une fréquence particulière sous les climats périglaciaires (où l'on parle de gélifluxion), car, lors du dégel, les lentilles de glace libèrent une grande quantité d'eau. Toutefois, en raison des multiples possibilités d'apport d'eau (précipitations, fusion nivale, nappe phréatique, etc.), la solifluxion s'observe sous toutes les latitudes.

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Geomorfología y geomorfogénesis
  • Glaciología
DEF

Disminución de áreas heladas permanentemente, por fusión de nieves o hielo.

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