Spatial analysis of solifluction landforms and process rates in the Abisko Mountains, northern Sweden

Abstract The occurrence of turf‐banked solifluction landforms in the Abisko region was analysed using a grid‐based approach and statistical modelling through logistic regression. Significant parameters in the model were the vegetation index NDVI, annual incoming potential radiation, wetness index, s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Permafrost and Periglacial Processes
Main Authors: Ridefelt, Hanna, Etzelmüller, Bernd, Boelhouwers, Jan
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2010
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ppp.681
https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fppp.681
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ppp.681
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Summary:Abstract The occurrence of turf‐banked solifluction landforms in the Abisko region was analysed using a grid‐based approach and statistical modelling through logistic regression. Significant parameters in the model were the vegetation index NDVI, annual incoming potential radiation, wetness index, slope gradient and elevation. The model had an acceptable discrimination capacity and rather low model‐fit values, but clearly showed the importance of vegetation patterns for the occurrence of solifluction at a regional scale. Solifluction movement rates measured at eight sites were combined with model parameters and the annual duration of sun hours to regionalise solifluction movement rates through an unsupervised terrain classification. For comparison, the linear relationship between the probability of solifluction occurrence and variations in movement rates was also used to regionalise movement rates. Potential geomorphic work was calculated for six different areas within the region, with the greatest being for Kärkevagge, the area with the highest precipitation. The combination of a logistic regression model of mapped landforms and field measurements of solifluction rates represents a promising methodology to assess the occurrence and activity of the process at a regional scale. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.