Geocryology: Characteristics and Use of Frozen Ground and Permafrost Landforms

Geocryology: Characteristics and Use of Frozen Ground and Permafrost Landforms Geocryology is the science studying the effects of ground temperatures below 0°C on the surface layers of the crust of the Earth. Areas with perennially frozen ground occupy over 20% of the land areas on Earth. The last book on this subject that dealt with processes and the landforms was published in 1979, and is therefore greatly out of date. The book is divided into three parts, viz., the introduction and characteristics of permafrost, the unique landforms found in these regions, and the limitations and problems affecting development in these areas. This book incorporates considerable Russian and Chinese research and expertise, providing a uniquely comprehensive, global overview. This book provides a general survey of Geocryology, which is the study of frozen ground called permafrost. Frozen ground is the product of cold climates as well as a variety of environmental factors. Its major characteristic is the accumulation of large quantities of ice which may exceed 90% by volume. Soil water changing to ice results in ground heaving, while thawing of this ice produces ground subsidence often accompanied by soil flowage. Permafrost is very susceptible to changes in weather and climate as well as to changes in the microenvironment. Cold weather produces contraction of the ground, resulting in cracking of the soil as well as breakup of concrete, rock, etc. Thus permafrost regions have unique landforms and processes not found in warmer lands.The book is divided into three parts. Part 1 provides an introduction to the characteristics of permafrost. Four chapters deal with its definition and characteristics, the unique processes operating there, the factors affecting it, and its general distribution. Part 2 consists of seven chapters describing the characteristic landforms unique to these areas and the processes involved in their formation. Part 3 discusses the special problems encountered by engineers in construction projects including settlements, roads and railways, the Autor: Stuart A. (University of Calgary) Harris, Anatoli Brouchkov Wydawnictwo: Taylor & Francis Rok wydania: 2020 Okładka: miękka Liczba stron: 766 Wymiary: 24.6 x 17.4 cm Język: angielski ISBN: 9780367528959