Present‐day periglacial activity in the Natal Drakensberg, Southern Africa: A Short Review

• Published in: Permafrost and Periglacial Processes
• Main Author: Boelhouwers, J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1991
• Subjects: Permafrost and Periglacial Processes
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ppp.3430020104; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fppp.3430020104; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ppp.3430020104

Abstract Active periglacial features are described for the Natal Drakensberg, a mountain region in southern Africa reaching up to 3482 m a.s.l. Surficial diurnal freezing is evident by features associated with needle ice activity, while thufa and micropatterned ground indicate more severe frost penetration. Solifluction phenomena are noted but have been insufficiently described as yet. Local environmental factors, such as aspect, moisture, topography, soil depth and texture, appear important in the regional distribution of periglacial features. An altitudinal zonation of periglacial activity is tentatively linked to climatic thresholds but is inhibited by the influence of other environmental factors and a lack of climatic data. A marginal periglacial environment appears to prevail in the Drakensberg.