Networks of unusually large fossil periglacial polygons, Campine area, northern Belgium
A series of polygon networks has been discovered on the most recent LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) DEM (Digital Elevation Model) of Flanders (Belgium) available in a resolution of 1 m 2 . They are located in the sandy Campine area (northern Belgium) and resemble thermal contraction crack polygo...
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Language: | English |
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2021
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Online Access: | https://research.vu.nl/en/publications/dd65a7e2-a4f1-4234-9674-eae085aba23e https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2020.107582 https://hdl.handle.net/1871.1/dd65a7e2-a4f1-4234-9674-eae085aba23e https://research.vu.nl/ws/files/227433443/Networks_of_unusually_large_fossil_periglacial_polygons_Campine_area_northern_Belgium.pdf http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85099225072&partnerID=8YFLogxK http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85099225072&partnerID=8YFLogxK |
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ftvuamstcris:oai:research.vu.nl:publications/dd65a7e2-a4f1-4234-9674-eae085aba23e 2024-09-30T14:36:25+00:00 Networks of unusually large fossil periglacial polygons, Campine area, northern Belgium Beerten, Koen Meylemans, Erwin Kasse, Cornelis Mestdagh, Thomas Van Rooij, David Bastiaens, Jan 2021-03-15 application/pdf https://research.vu.nl/en/publications/dd65a7e2-a4f1-4234-9674-eae085aba23e https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2020.107582 https://hdl.handle.net/1871.1/dd65a7e2-a4f1-4234-9674-eae085aba23e https://research.vu.nl/ws/files/227433443/Networks_of_unusually_large_fossil_periglacial_polygons_Campine_area_northern_Belgium.pdf http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85099225072&partnerID=8YFLogxK http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85099225072&partnerID=8YFLogxK eng eng https://research.vu.nl/en/publications/dd65a7e2-a4f1-4234-9674-eae085aba23e info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Beerten , K , Meylemans , E , Kasse , C , Mestdagh , T , Van Rooij , D & Bastiaens , J 2021 , ' Networks of unusually large fossil periglacial polygons, Campine area, northern Belgium ' , Geomorphology , vol. 377 , 107582 , pp. 1-14 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2020.107582 LiDAR DEM Polygon networks Thermal contraction cracking Weichselian permafrost article 2021 ftvuamstcris https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2020.107582 2024-09-05T00:23:22Z A series of polygon networks has been discovered on the most recent LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) DEM (Digital Elevation Model) of Flanders (Belgium) available in a resolution of 1 m 2 . They are located in the sandy Campine area (northern Belgium) and resemble thermal contraction crack polygon networks from present-day permafrost regions. Different network types were observed, ranging from orthogonal to hexagonal and various combinations of these. The inter-polygon troughs are typically several decimeters deep and up to several meters wide. The average polygon size is ca. 3000 m 2 , which is equivalent to a diameter of ca. 60 m if the polygon shape is approximated with a perfect circle, or a side of ca. 55 m length if it were to be approximated by a perfect square. The average size is (much) larger than any of the studied present-day analogues, and also larger than fossil networks in the western part of Flanders, Poland and France. In contrast to the Campine polygons presented here, the fossil analogues in these countries were detected using satellite imagery and orthophotos, which may partially explain the observed size differences. The morphometric analysis of the Campine networks shows relationships between polygon type and local geomorphological position as orthogonal networks seem to have a preference to develop near shallow valley slopes. In addition, GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) radargrams were acquired across polygon boundaries to investigate subsoil disturbances related to the former position of ice wedges or sand wedges. However, the evidence is not unequivocal due to the low dielectric contrast between the host and wedge material. It is not clear yet whether smaller 2nd and 3rd order cracks did develop but without leaving a topographical imprint. The observed polygon networks in the Campine area are interpreted as first-order networks that developed during a time span of several thousands of years, up to 10 kyr at most, in a former Late Weichselian permafrost climate. Article in Journal/Newspaper Ice permafrost wedge* Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU): Research Portal Geomorphology 377 107582 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU): Research Portal |
op_collection_id |
ftvuamstcris |
language |
English |
topic |
LiDAR DEM Polygon networks Thermal contraction cracking Weichselian permafrost |
spellingShingle |
LiDAR DEM Polygon networks Thermal contraction cracking Weichselian permafrost Beerten, Koen Meylemans, Erwin Kasse, Cornelis Mestdagh, Thomas Van Rooij, David Bastiaens, Jan Networks of unusually large fossil periglacial polygons, Campine area, northern Belgium |
topic_facet |
LiDAR DEM Polygon networks Thermal contraction cracking Weichselian permafrost |
description |
A series of polygon networks has been discovered on the most recent LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) DEM (Digital Elevation Model) of Flanders (Belgium) available in a resolution of 1 m 2 . They are located in the sandy Campine area (northern Belgium) and resemble thermal contraction crack polygon networks from present-day permafrost regions. Different network types were observed, ranging from orthogonal to hexagonal and various combinations of these. The inter-polygon troughs are typically several decimeters deep and up to several meters wide. The average polygon size is ca. 3000 m 2 , which is equivalent to a diameter of ca. 60 m if the polygon shape is approximated with a perfect circle, or a side of ca. 55 m length if it were to be approximated by a perfect square. The average size is (much) larger than any of the studied present-day analogues, and also larger than fossil networks in the western part of Flanders, Poland and France. In contrast to the Campine polygons presented here, the fossil analogues in these countries were detected using satellite imagery and orthophotos, which may partially explain the observed size differences. The morphometric analysis of the Campine networks shows relationships between polygon type and local geomorphological position as orthogonal networks seem to have a preference to develop near shallow valley slopes. In addition, GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) radargrams were acquired across polygon boundaries to investigate subsoil disturbances related to the former position of ice wedges or sand wedges. However, the evidence is not unequivocal due to the low dielectric contrast between the host and wedge material. It is not clear yet whether smaller 2nd and 3rd order cracks did develop but without leaving a topographical imprint. The observed polygon networks in the Campine area are interpreted as first-order networks that developed during a time span of several thousands of years, up to 10 kyr at most, in a former Late Weichselian permafrost climate. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Beerten, Koen Meylemans, Erwin Kasse, Cornelis Mestdagh, Thomas Van Rooij, David Bastiaens, Jan |
author_facet |
Beerten, Koen Meylemans, Erwin Kasse, Cornelis Mestdagh, Thomas Van Rooij, David Bastiaens, Jan |
author_sort |
Beerten, Koen |
title |
Networks of unusually large fossil periglacial polygons, Campine area, northern Belgium |
title_short |
Networks of unusually large fossil periglacial polygons, Campine area, northern Belgium |
title_full |
Networks of unusually large fossil periglacial polygons, Campine area, northern Belgium |
title_fullStr |
Networks of unusually large fossil periglacial polygons, Campine area, northern Belgium |
title_full_unstemmed |
Networks of unusually large fossil periglacial polygons, Campine area, northern Belgium |
title_sort |
networks of unusually large fossil periglacial polygons, campine area, northern belgium |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://research.vu.nl/en/publications/dd65a7e2-a4f1-4234-9674-eae085aba23e https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2020.107582 https://hdl.handle.net/1871.1/dd65a7e2-a4f1-4234-9674-eae085aba23e https://research.vu.nl/ws/files/227433443/Networks_of_unusually_large_fossil_periglacial_polygons_Campine_area_northern_Belgium.pdf http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85099225072&partnerID=8YFLogxK http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85099225072&partnerID=8YFLogxK |
genre |
Ice permafrost wedge* |
genre_facet |
Ice permafrost wedge* |
op_source |
Beerten , K , Meylemans , E , Kasse , C , Mestdagh , T , Van Rooij , D & Bastiaens , J 2021 , ' Networks of unusually large fossil periglacial polygons, Campine area, northern Belgium ' , Geomorphology , vol. 377 , 107582 , pp. 1-14 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2020.107582 |
op_relation |
https://research.vu.nl/en/publications/dd65a7e2-a4f1-4234-9674-eae085aba23e |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2020.107582 |
container_title |
Geomorphology |
container_volume |
377 |
container_start_page |
107582 |
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1811639475137150976 |