Climatic and geomorphic factors affecting contemporary (1950-2004) activity of retrogressive thaw slumps on the Aklavik Plateau, Richardson Mountains, NWT, Canada

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

LACELLE, D.

Planetary Exploration and Space Astronomy, Canadian Space Agency, St-Hubert, Canada

BJORNSON, J.

Dep. of Geography, Univ., Ottawa, Canada

LAURIOL, B.

Dep. of Geography, Univ., Ottawa, Canada

Description :
The climatic and geomorphic factors affecting retrogressive thaw slump initiation and activity on the Aklavik Plateau (Richardson Mountains, NWT) were examined using historical air photographs over a 54-year period (1950-2004). All thaw slumps on the Aklavik Plateau are located within the glacial limit of the Laurentide Ice Sheet and the majority developed on the western side of the valley on gently sloping terrain. Aerial photographic analysis showed an increase in thaw slump initiation over the 1954-71 period and over the 1985-2004 period. However, the total number of active mature thaw slumps on the Aklavik Plateau decreased from a maximum of 46 in 1950 to a minimum of 24 observed in 2004. Both these trends may relate to the influence of climate on the erosional processes that are thought to initiate thaw slumps and keep them active in regions of highlands.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Permafrost and periglacial processes, issn : 1045-6740, 2010, vol. 21, n°. 1, p. 1-15, nombre de pages : 15, Références bibliographiques : 1,5 p.

Date :
2010

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Chichester, Wiley

Langue :
Anglais