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Some further observations regarding “cryoplanation terraces” on Alexander Island

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2009

Kevin Hall  and
Marie-Françoise André
Kevin Hall*
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
Marie-Françoise André
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de géographie physique, Université Blaise Pascal, UMR 6042 - CNRS, 4 rue Ledru, 63057 Clermont-Ferrand, France
*
*[email protected]
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Abstract

Landforms with the appearance of cryoplanation terraces were studied on Alexander Island in an attempt to better understand their formation and growth. Developed on sub-horizontal sedimentary rocks, with 360° exposure around a nunatak, the terraces show a distinct equatorward orientational preference and an increase in terrace size with elevation. Available data fail to indicate any evidence of freeze-thaw weathering and information relating to present-day debris transport is singularly absent. Thermal data from the rock exposures showed variability that could cause thermal fatigue but no rates of change of temperature commensurate with thermal shock were recorded. Terrace development appears to be connected with lithological differences in the local sandstones, with growth along sedimentary junctions. Although presently in a permafrost environment, the available information on these landforms does not appear to be compatible with that generally accepted for cryoplanation terraces.

Keywords

Antarcticaterrace formationweathering
Type
Earth Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 22 , Issue 2 , April 2010 , pp. 175 - 183
Copyright
Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2009

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