Patterned ground above the alpine timberline in the High Sudetes, Central Europe

• Main Authors: Křížek, Marek, Krause, David, Uxa, Tomáš, Engel, Zbyněk, Treml, Václav, Traczyk, Andrzej
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Taylor & Francis 2019
• Subjects: 29999 Physical Sciences not elsewhere classified; FOS Physical sciences; Neuroscience; Evolutionary Biology; FOS Biological sciences; 59999 Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified; FOS Earth and related environmental sciences; Ecology; 80699 Information Systems not elsewhere classified; FOS Computer and information sciences; Inorganic Chemistry; FOS Chemical sciences; permafrost
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.9089207.v1; https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Patterned_ground_above_the_alpine_timberline_in_the_High_Sudetes_Central_Europe/9089207/1

Patterned ground in mountainous areas has a high palaeogeographic significance as it is associated with cold environments and frequently with permafrost conditions. Most patterned ground (i.e. sorted polygons, sorted nets, sorted stripes) in the High Sudetes is overgrown by vegetation and is relict. However, wind-blown summit areas with low snow cover allow for the activity of sorted circles, earth and peat hummocks, and some non-sorted stripes. The extent of patterned ground above the alpine timberline in the High Sudetes presented here is based on detailed field geomorphologic mapping. Patterned ground occurs on summit planation surfaces and surrounding gently sloping terrain, and covers 5.23 km 2 . Sorted polygons are the highest-elevated patterned-ground type. The spatial distribution of patterned ground is shown in the map, which could be helpful for future research of the Quaternary geomorphologic evolution of the mountain landscape and for nature protection planning in the High Sudetes.