A note on biological weathering on nunataks of the juneau icefield, Alaska

• Published in: Permafrost and Periglacial Processes
• Main Authors: Hall, Kevin, Otte, Wulf
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1990
• Subjects: Permafrost and Periglacial Processes; Alaska
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ppp.3430010209; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fppp.3430010209; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ppp.3430010209

Abstract Observations on a number of nunataks of the Juneau Icefield indicate that chasmolithic algae play a major role in the breakdown of granitic rock. Expansion and contraction of the algal mucilage, caused by wetting and drying episodes, results in the surface flaking of the rock. Available data suggest that the average mass of material lost per year from 1 m 2 of rock could be as high as 562 g. It is suggested that biological weathering may be a major destructive mechanism of the granitic lithologies.