Quaternary Geology

  1. Periglacial Environments and Processes
    1. Permafrost
      1. Definition and Characteristics
        1. Temperature Criteria
          1. Thickness Variations
            1. Ground Ice Content
            2. Distribution Patterns
              1. Continuous Permafrost
                1. Discontinuous Permafrost
                  1. Sporadic Permafrost
                    1. Isolated Patches
                    2. Permafrost Structure
                      1. Active Layer
                        1. Permafrost Table
                          1. Talik Formation
                            1. Thermal Regime
                            2. Ground Ice Types
                              1. Pore Ice
                                1. Segregated Ice
                                  1. Intrusive Ice
                                    1. Vein Ice
                                  2. Periglacial Processes
                                    1. Frost Action
                                      1. Frost Weathering
                                        1. Frost Heaving
                                          1. Frost Thrusting
                                            1. Needle Ice Formation
                                            2. Ground Thermal Processes
                                              1. Freeze-Thaw Cycles
                                                1. Thermal Contraction
                                                  1. Thermal Expansion
                                                  2. Mass Wasting Processes
                                                    1. Solifluction
                                                      1. Gelifluction
                                                        1. Frost Creep
                                                          1. Active Layer Detachment
                                                          2. Nivation Processes
                                                            1. Snow Patch Erosion
                                                              1. Chemical Weathering
                                                                1. Mechanical Weathering
                                                              2. Periglacial Landforms
                                                                1. Patterned Ground
                                                                  1. Sorted Circles
                                                                    1. Sorted Polygons
                                                                      1. Sorted Stripes
                                                                        1. Non-sorted Patterns
                                                                        2. Ice Wedge Features
                                                                          1. Ice Wedge Polygons
                                                                            1. Thermal Contraction Cracks
                                                                              1. Sand Wedges
                                                                                1. Composite Wedges
                                                                                2. Frost Mounds
                                                                                  1. Pingos
                                                                                    1. Open System Pingos
                                                                                      1. Closed System Pingos
                                                                                      2. Palsas
                                                                                        1. Seasonal Frost Mounds
                                                                                        2. Slope Features
                                                                                          1. Blockfields
                                                                                            1. Rock Glaciers
                                                                                              1. Protalus Ramparts
                                                                                                1. Nivation Hollows
                                                                                                2. Thermokarst Features
                                                                                                  1. Thaw Lakes
                                                                                                    1. Thaw Slumps
                                                                                                      1. Beaded Streams
                                                                                                        1. Alas Valleys

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                                                                                                    3. Glacial Geology

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                                                                                                    5. Non-Glacial Quaternary Environments