Evidence for enhanced mechanical weathering associated with seasonally late‐lying and perennial snow patches, Jotunheimen, Norway

Mark S. Berrisford

Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, 1991, vol. 2, issue 4, 331-340

Abstract: At two snow patch sites in Jotunheimen, Norway, direct evidence of surface fracturing and splitting of boulders was collected to quantify spatial variations in the amounts of mechanical weathering associated with snow patches. Transects between external control and internal sites display a 3‐5‐fold increase in the percentage of clasts affected by mechanically induced fracture processes. Up to 50% of clasts within the internal areas of the snow patches exhibit either surface flaking or more severe fracturing; this contrasts with up to 15% of clasts exhibiting evidence of mechanical weathering at the snow patch peripheries. The results indicate that the snow patches significantly enhance mechanical weathering processes and that maximum mechanical weathering is associated with the average annual retreat position of the snow margin. A l'emplacement et à proximité de deux flaques de neige à Jotunheimen, en Norvège, des observations directes de rupture et de fissuration de gros blocs ont été rassemblées pour quantifier les variations spatiales de la désagrégation mécanique. Des coupes de contréle réalisées en‐dehors des flaques de neige ont mis en évidence que la production de débris est 3 à 5 fois plus importante sous la plaque de neige. Plus de 50% des débris observés à l'emplacement des plaques de neige montrent à la fois un écaillage de surface et une fracturation sévère, tandis que seulement 15% des débris montrent les mémes caractères en‐dehors des flaques de neige. l'étude indique que les flaques de neige augmentent de manière significative les processus d'altération mécanique et que la désagrégation mécanique est maximale à proximité de la limite moyenne annuelle de retrait de la neige.

Date: 1991
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https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp.3430020408

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wly:perpro:v:2:y:1991:i:4:p:331-340

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