Definition
The surface expression of permafrost crosscut by integrated/intersecting polygonized fractures (formed by means of thermal-contraction) that are filled with frozen water, i.e., ice wedges.
Category
A type of nonsorted patterned ground
A type of periglacial landform
Morphometry
Ice-wedge polygon networks range from a few meters to tens of kilometers in reach (Fig. 1 ) (Washburn 1973; Mackay 1980; French 2007). Typically, individual ice-wedge polygons show diameters in the 5–40 m range (Washburn 1973; French 2007); however, ice-wedge polygons with diameters >100 m have been observed in Eastern Siberia (Geocryology of the USSR, Eastern Siberia and the far east 1989). Ice-wedge diameters at the apex range from <10 cm to >3 m, commonly tapering to a feather edge at a depth of 1 to >10 m (Harris et al. 1988).
References
Black RF (1976) Periglacial features indicative of permafrost: ice and soil wedges. Quat Res 6(1):3–26
French HM (2007) The periglacial environment. Wiley, West Sussex, 458 p
French HM, Guglielman M (2000) Frozen ground phenomena in the vicinity of Terra Nova Bay, Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica, a preliminary report. Geogr Ann 821A:513–526
Geocryology of the USSR, Eastern Siberia and the Far East (1989) Geokryologiya SSSR: Vostochnaya Sibir i Dalny Vostok. Nedra, Moscow, 515 p (in Russian)
Harris SA, French HM, Heginbottom JA, Johnston GH, Ladanyi B, Sego DC, van Everdingen RO (eds) (1988) Glossary of permafrost and related ground-ice terms. Permafrost subcommittee, National Research Council of Canada. Technical memorandum no 142
Lachenbruch AH (1962) Mechanics of thermal contraction cracks and ice wedge polygons in permafrost. Geological Society of America, Special paper 70. 69 p
Mackay JR (1980) Deformation of ice-wedge polygons, Garry Island, Northwest Territories. Geological Survey of Canada, paper 80-1A, pp 297–301
Mackay JR (2000) Thermally induced movements in ice-wedge polygons, western arctic coast: a long-term study. Géogr Phys Q 54:41–68
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Pina P, Vieira G, Christiansen HH, Barata MT, Oliva M, Neves M, Bandeira L, Lousada M, Jorge M, Saraiva J (2012) Analog studies of ice-wedge polygons in Svalbard: 2011 field campaign, topology and geometry. 43rd Lunar Planet Sci Conf, abstract #2353, Houston
Seibert NM, Kargel JS (2001) Small-scale polygonal terrain: implications for liquid surface water. Geophys Res Lett. doi:10.1029/2000GL12093
Séjourné A, Costard FN, Gargani J, Soare RJ, Federov A, Marmo C (2011) Scalloped terrain and small-sized polygons in western Utopia Planitia, Mars: A new formation hypothesis. Planetary and Space Science 59(5–6):412–422. doi:10.1016/j.pss.2011.01.007.
Soare RJ, Conway SJ, Dohm JM (2014). Possible ice-wedge polygons and recent landscape modification by “wet” periglacial processes in and around the Argyre impact basin, Mars Icarus 233:214–228. doi:org/10.1016/j.icarus.2014.01.034
Washburn AL (1973) Periglacial processes and environments. St. Martins Press, New York
Williams RS Jr, Ferrigno JG (eds) (2012) State of the earth’s cryosphere at the beginning of the 21st century–Glaciers, global snow cover, floating ice, and permafrost and periglacial environments: U.S. Geological Survey professional paper 1386–A, 546 p
Xie H, Ackley SF, Zeng Z, Qiu F (2007) Permafrost and its implication in ‘Louth’ crater (70.5 N, 103.2E) of Mars. Seventh international conference on Mars, #3200, Pasadena, California
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Hargitai, H., Soare, R. (2014). Ice Wedge Polygon. In: Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9213-9_193-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9213-9_193-1
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Latest
Ice Wedge Polygon- Published:
- 15 November 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9213-9_193-2
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Ice Wedge Polygon- Published:
- 20 June 2014
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9213-9_193-1