Thufur in the mohlesi valley, lesotho, Southern Africa

• Published in: Permafrost and Periglacial Processes
• Main Author: Grab, S. W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1994
• Subjects: Permafrost and Periglacial Processes
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ppp.3430050205; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fppp.3430050205; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ppp.3430050205

Abstract Although a considerable amount of periglacial work has concentrated on thufur found in polar and subpolar regions, information pertaining to those in other areas, especially the alpine regions of Africa, is extremely limited. Field observations and measurements provide empirical information on their external and internal morphology in an alpine region of Lesotho, southern Africa. Animal activity, wind action, the effects of surface water and/or ice, and the influence of needle ice are factors which cause thufa breakup. Some thufur in the Mohlesi valley are inactive while others are periodically active under present climatic conditions.