Syngenetic permafrost growth: cryostratigraphic observations from the CRREL tunnel near Fairbanks, Alaska

Y. Shur, H. M. French, M. T. Bray and D. A. Anderson

Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, 2004, vol. 15, issue 4, 339-347

Abstract: Syngenetic permafrost forms when alluvial, aeolian and/or colluvial sediment accumulates under cold‐climate conditions. Observations from within the CRREL permafrost tunnel near Fairbanks, Alaska, indicate that layered, lenticular‐layered and micro‐lenticular cryogenic structures are characteristic of this type of permafrost. In contrast, reticulate cryogenic structures indicate local thaw modification. During the growth of syngenetic permafrost, episodes of thermokarst erosion may operate preferentially along ice wedges leading to the development of gullies and tunnels in the near‐surface sediments. The local thaw unconformities that result are inferred by the recognition of thermokarst‐cave ice (‘pool’ ice), and various soil and ice pseudomorphs. These may be regarded as further characteristics of syngenetic permafrost growth. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Date: 2004
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp.486

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wly:perpro:v:15:y:2004:i:4:p:339-347

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Permafrost and Periglacial Processes from John Wiley & Sons
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Wiley Content Delivery ().