Wind as a Geomorphic Agent in Cold Climates Studies in Polar Research

About this book

This book was first published in 2004. Wind erosion and deposition are important factors in cold climates because of the open space and scarce vegetation. Aeolian processes connected with sand drift in polar environments are similar to those in deserts but in cold environments, frost and snow also play an important role. The Arctic is characterised by strangely eroded rocks, wind-formed lakes, sand dunes and loess deposits that owe their formation to aeolian processes controlled by frost and snow cover. Wind as a Geomorphic Agent in Cold Climates presents a detailed description and explanation of these wind-generated polar landforms. It includes numerous illustrations that will assist the reader in identifying and interpreting these features; both modern-day and those preserved in the geological record. This book provides an important introduction to this area of geocryology and will form a useful reference for graduate students and researchers in a variety of fields, including geomorphology, geology and environmental science.

Contents

Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. Delimitation and characterization of cold environments 3. General wind patterns in polar regions 4. Wind drift of mineral material 5. Abrasion 6. Deflation 7. Question of oriented lakes 8. Accumulation 9. Wind directions interpreted from field evidence 10. Ice wedge casts and sand wedges 11. Snow 12. Drift of snow 13. Snow accumulation 14. Deflation of snow cover 15. Snow and frost formation 16. Aeolian landforms indicating palaeowind conditions References Index

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