Periglacial mass movement processes

Question 1

Name the types of Periglacial Processes

Answer 1

. Solifluction
. Gelifluction
. Congelifluction
. Frost Creep
. Rockfalls

Question 2

Explain Solifluction

Answer 2

1. ) Occurs due to freeze and thawing, where temperatures in summer are high enough to melt ice held in upper layers of permafrost (active layer), and water freezes in winter into ice.
2. ) The active layer gets bigger, saturated and easily flows during warmer summer months, due to thawing
3. ) The reason for this is that the frozen ground (permafrost) below is impermeable; the meltwater in the active layer cannot drain away. Additionally, there is very little evaporation, due to low temperatures in a cold periglacial environment
4. ) Freeze thaw weathering weakens the slope face to eventually collapse in a rational movement known as rotational slumping
5. ) Lubrication from the water, reduces friction between soil particles. This increase speed of soil and regolith movement downhill
6. ) On a slope, this saturated layer of soil and regolith moves downslope, due to gravity