Permafrost environment of the Daisetsu Mountains, Hokkaido, Japan

The distribution of permafrost in the Daisetsu Mountains is discussed on the basis of freezing and thawing indices and the pattern of winter snow distribution. Mean annual air temperature at an altitude of 2000 m a.s.l. is estimated to be −3.6 °C in normal years. Alpine permafrost is distributed mai...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Permafrost and Periglacial Processes
Main Author: Toshio Sone
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp.3430030311
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Summary:The distribution of permafrost in the Daisetsu Mountains is discussed on the basis of freezing and thawing indices and the pattern of winter snow distribution. Mean annual air temperature at an altitude of 2000 m a.s.l. is estimated to be −3.6 °C in normal years. Alpine permafrost is distributed mainly on windward bare ground. The windward bare ground extends to summit areas, where most snow is removed from the ground surface by strong prevailing wind. The lower limit of permafrost is considered to be about 1650 m a.s.l. Some active periglacial processes, such as palsa formation and frost cracking, are explained by the present climate of the Daisetsu Mountains. La distribution du pergélisol dans les montagnes Daisetsu est discutée sur la base des indices de gel et de dégel et la distribution de la neige en hiver. La température moyenne annuelle à l'altitude de 2000 m est estimée ětre de — 3.6 °C les années normales. Le pergélisol alpin est distribué principalement sous les sols nus exposés au vent. Ces sols dénudés sont localisés sur les régions sommitales où la majorité de la neige est emportée par les forts vents dominants. La limite inférieure du pergélisol se trouve à environ 1650 m d'altitude. Quelques processus périglaciaires actifs, tels que la formation de palses et de fissures de gel, sont expliqués par les conditions climatiques actuelles du Mont Daisetsu.