NOTES SUR LE PERIGLACIAIRE DU SPITZBERG

• Published in: The Canadian Geographer/Le Géographe canadien
• Main Author: HAMELIN, LOUIS‐EDMOND
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1962
• Subjects: Spitzberg; Spitsbergen
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-0064.1962.tb01430.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1541-0064.1962.tb01430.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1541-0064.1962.tb01430.x

RéSUMé From the first, inquiries into periglacial morphology in Spitsbergen (beginning in 1910) have tended to direct the world's periglacial research to the study of patterned ground. In Spitsbergen, periglacial forms are related to both climatic and locational factors. The gelival cycle, the fluvioperiglacial phenomena, floating ice conditions, the semi‐arid regime, and a wide range of seasonal contrasts are the main climatic features. The numerous shoreline terraces constitute a terrain favourable to the development of both certain sediments and surface forms. The author's classification of periglacial phenomena comprises the following groups: (1) perigelisol and mollisol; (2) patterned ground; (3) gelifraction and slides; (4) gelifluction; (5) floating ice conditions; (6) glacial tectonics; (7) others. The rhythm of evolution of periglacial phenomena in Spitsbergen has not been the same in all parts; therefore the observed forms usually carry traces of various climatic fluctuations; slopes and patterned ground in particular show the effect of these “read‐vances” of glacial climatic conditions. The paper ends with an appended glossary of more than thirty technical terms.