Pingos and palsas: A review of the present state of knowledge

[en] The article presents a summary of the present state of knowledge of perennial periglacial mounds, including descriptions of the external appearance and internal composition of pingos and palsas and a discussion of the genetic mechanisms. Pingos appear to be the result of the freezing of a mass of water trapped beneath permafrost under cryostatic or hydraulic pressure. Palsas are formed by the migration of groundwater to a freezing plane (cryosuction). The existence of mineral palsas is recognized; in this case the peat cover may be extremely thin or even totally non‐existent.

Disciplines :

Earth sciences & physical geography

Author, co-author :

Pissart, Albert ; Université de Liège - ULiège

Language :

English

Title :

Pingos and palsas: A review of the present state of knowledge

Publication date :

1985

Journal title :

Polar Geography and Geology

ISSN :

0273-8457

eISSN :

2377-7702

Publisher :

V.H. Winston and Sons, Silver Spring, United States - Maryland

Volume :

Issue :

Pages :

171-195

Funders :

National Council for Scientific Research: 111National Research Council Canada: 431National Research Council Canada: 432National Research Council Canada: 1073National Council for Scientific Research: 1130,1964

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since 01 September 2020

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