Landscape of Northern Greenland

• Main Author: Davies, William E
• Other Authors: COLD REGIONS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING LAB HANOVER NH
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1972
• Subjects: Geology; Geochemistry and Mineralogy; Logistics; Military Facilities and Supplies; *GEOLOGY; *GREENLAND; *MILITARY TRANSPORTATION; ARCTIC REGIONS; BEACHES; CLASSIFICATION; CLIMATE; DRAINAGE; GLACIERS; GROUND EFFECT MACHINES; ICE; MOUNTAINS; PERMAFROST; PLANTS(BOTANY); SOILS; TABLES(DATA); TERRAIN; GEOMORPHOLOGY; *GEOMORPHOLOGY; LANDFORMS; Arctic; Canada; Greenland; glacier*; Ice; permafrost
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0739934; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0739934

The terrain, geomorphology, physiolography and general environmental setting of Northern Greenland are the subject of the report. There are no clear cut regional designations for Greenland; therefore for the purposes of the report Northern Greenland has been arbitrarily set as the area north of 79 on both the east and west coasts. The general topography, geology, vegetation, climate and permafrost conditions are discussed to provide an indication of the environmental setting. A new physiographic classification for Northern Greenland is proposed. Three basic concepts have been followed in establishing the physiographic divisions: (1) the divisions have been established to be applicable to all of Greenland; (2) they have been correlated as far as practicable with those already established in Canada; and (3) to be systematic, they follow the general criteria and scheme established by Fenneman and others for the United States. A terrain classification of this area is also presented with an emphasis toward cross-country operation of air cushion vehicles. This type of approach is very useful for operational analysis of vehicles of this type in this area. The land areas has been broken down into seven categories with varying degrees of suitability for air cushion vehicle operations.