Call number:
AWI G3-23-95320
Description / Table of Contents:
This collection of papers by internationally known scientists in the field of geocryology was originally presented as a series of lectures at the University of British Columbia in 1980-81 in honour of J. Ross MacKay. Together they illustrate the central dilemma in a science where fieldwork must be undertaken in the harsh periglacial environment and where, consequently, it is difficult to test theory rigorously. The papers provide a valuable overview of the current status of international research in a wide area of the field - permafrost, patterned ground, and cold climate phenomena and processes. The treatment varies from anecdotal, historical, and descriptive to mathematical.
The studies on soil freezing, ice formation and thaw are relatively sophisticated treatments that are physically sound, theoretically based, and quantitatively precise, as are the computational methods and the extension of results to engineering site evaluations given in other contributions. The regional accounts of geocryological and nival phenomena, on the other hand, remain entirely empirical and, for the most part, qualitative.
This critical mismatch of understanding between microscale and regional scale is emphasized in the review of the status of periglacial studies. Ross MacKay's most valuable contribution to science has been his consistent demonstration of how to occupy the middle ground by applying simple physical concepts to explain variations in the landscape.
Type of Medium:
Monograph available for loan
Pages:
XVI, 213 Seiten
,
Illustrationen, Diagramme, Karten
ISBN:
0774802049
,
0-7748-0204-9
URL:
https://swbplus.bsz-bw.de/cgi-bin/result_katan.pl?item=bsz256517851inh.htm
Language:
English
,
French
,
Russian
Note:
CONTENTS
List of Figures and Illustrations
List of Tables
Preface
Acknowledgements
Notation
1. On the Scientific Method of J. Ross Mackay / W.H. MATHEWS
2. Experimental Observations of Periglacial Processes in the Arctic / ALFRED JAHN
3. Extreme Rainfall and Rapid Snowmelt as Causes of Mass Movements in High Latitude Mountains / ANDERS RAPP
4. Estimation of Avalanche Runout Distances in New Zealand/ B.B. FITZHARRIS
5. The Ice Factor in Frozen Ground / L.W. GOLD
6. Models of Soil Freezing / M.W. SMITH
7. A Step Function Model of Ice Segregation / S.I. OUTCALT
8. Recent Observations on the Deformation of Ice and Ice-Rich Permafrost / N.R. MORGENSTERN
9. Distribution of Recently Active Ice and Soil Wedges in the U.S.S.R. / N.N. ROMANOVSKIJ
10.Periglacial Problems / A.L. WASHBURN
Notes on Contributors
Author Citation Index
Index
,
Abstracts in englischer, französischer und russischer Sprache
Location:
AWI Reading room
Branch Library:
AWI Library
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