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The role of permafrost in shaping the Late Glacial relief of northern Poland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 March 2014

A.J. van Loon ,
M. Błaszkiewicz  and
M. Degórski
A.J. van Loon*
Affiliation:
Geological Institute, Adam Mickiewicz University, Maków Polnych 16, 61-606 Poznań, Poland
M. Błaszkiewicz
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Resources and Geohazards, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization, Kopernika 19, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
M. Degórski
Affiliation:
Department of Geoecology and Climatology, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization, Twarda 51/55, 00818-Warszawa, Poland
*
Email: tvanloon@amu.edu.pl; tom.van.loon@wxs.nl
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Abstract

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The presence of permafrost in Poland north of the line indicating the maximum ice extent of the Vistulian (Weichselian) glaciation after retreat of the land-ice cap has been a subject of debate for a long time. Investigations in an area at the line of the maximum ice extent of the Pomeranian phase prove that permafrost existed, indeed, after the ice retreat. This conclusion is drawn on the basis of morphological data (the presence of oriented kettle holes), sedimentological data (the nature of the infilling of the kettle holes) and pedological data (permafrost-affected horizons in soil profiles). It appears that the permafrost mostly developed in the ice-free zone that appeared after the retreat of the land-ice cap, but it is likely that some relict permafrost that had originated earlier in front of advancing ice was also still present. The landscape of northern Poland owes its relief partly to the Late Glacial permafrost.

Keywords

Permafrostkettle holessoil developmentburied icemorphogenesisLate Glacialnorthern Poland
Type
Research Article
Information
Netherlands Journal of Geosciences , Volume 91 , Issue 1-2 , September 2012 , pp. 223 - 231
Copyright
Copyright © Stichting Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 2012

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