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Distributed for University of British Columbia Press

Field and Theory

Lectures in Geocryology

This collection of papers by internationally known scientists in the field of geocryology was originally presented as a series of lectures at the University of British Columbia in 1980-1 in honour of J. Ross MacKay. Together they illustrate the central dilemma in a science where fieldwork must be undertaken in the harsh periglacial environment and where, consequently, it is difficult to test theory rigorously. The papers provide a valuable overview of the current status of international research in a wide area of the field -- permafrost, patterned ground, and cold climate phenomena and processes. The treatment varies from anecdotal, historical, and descriptive to mathematical.

228 pages | © 1985

Geography: Environmental Geography


Table of Contents

List of Figures and Illustrations

List of Tables

Preface

Acknowledgements

Notation

1. On the Scientific Method of J. Ross Mackay / W.H. Mathews

2. Experimental Observations of Periglacial Processes in the Arctic / Alfred Jahn

3. Extreme Rainfall and Rapid Snowmelt as Causes of Mass Movements in High Latitude Mountains / Anders Rapp

4. Estimation of Avalanche Runout Distances in New Zealand / B.B. Fitzharris

5. The Ice Factor in Frozen Ground / L.W. Gold

6. Models of Soil Freezing / M.W. Smith

7. A Step Function Model of Ice Segregation / S.I. Outcalt

8. Recent Observations on the Deformation of Ice and Ice-Rich Permafrost / N.R. Morgenstern

9. Distribution of Recently Active Ice and Soil Wedges in the U.S.S.R. / N.N. Romanovskij

10. Periglacial Problems / A.L. Washburn

Notes on Contributors

Author Citation Index

Index

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