Criteria to Distinguish Between Periglacial, Proglacial and Paraglacial Environments

Abstract

abstract. Clarification of the differences between the terms periglacial, proglacial and paraglacial is based on consideration of their conventional definitions, and noting that the term "periglacial" is a function of process, "proglacial" is a function of location and "paraglacial" is a function of degree and mode of recovery from the disturbance of continental glaciation . Periglacial and proglacial environments are commonly viewed as being adjusted to contemporary process, though important questions have been raised about relict periglacial landscapes in this regard. Paraglacial environments are explicitly out of adjustment with contemporary process and retain in their configuration a glacial signature. All three concepts are seen to be essential to comprehensive understanding of glaciated environments. It is a nested set of concepts which overlap in the field but none of the terms is redundant. Criteria for differentiation of these cold environment descriptors are proposed.

Short-term geomorphological evolution of proglacial systems

“…Burki et al, 2010;Laute and Beylich, 2012). There is therefore a challenge to define proglacial systems in terms of process types and rates of processes, relative to those beyond the proglacial area, whilst being mindful that 'proglacial' is defined by location as opposed to periglacial, which is a set of processes that are specifically related to frost action and/or the occurrence of permafrost, or paraglacial, which refers to morphodynamics, time and space (Slaymaker, 2011). Figure 15 illustrates the competing influences of longitudinal sediment fluxes supplied from a glacier and its meltwater, versus lateral fluxes of water and sediment to a valley floor from hillslopes as a conceptual start to this discussion.…”

Dört Farkli Soğuk Ortam Topoğrafyasi Tek Bi̇r Buzullaşma Alani Üzeri̇nde Gözlenebi̇li̇r Mi̇? Karçal Dağlari Örneği̇ (Doğu Karadeni̇z Bölümü/Türki̇ye)

“…Buz örtüleri ya da buzulların denize kavuştukları bölgelerde glasiyomarin mekanizma ve ortamlar yer almaktadır. Buzullardan kaynaklanan akarsular glasiyoflüvyal ve buzul sınırlarında oluşan göller ise glasiyolakustrin süreç ve koşulları oluşturmaktadır (Slaymaker, 2011;86).…”

“…Proglasiyal ortamlar ise genellikle glasiyoflüvyal, glasiyolakustrin, glasiyomarin süreçlerin hâkim olduğu ve buz örtüleri, buz takkeleri ve alpin buzullara komşu alanlardır. Paraglasiyal ortamlar ise buzullardan kaynaklı koşullara sahip olmasına karşılık buzullaşmanın bulunmadığı, genellikle buzullaşma sonucu gelişmiş aşınma ve biriktirme şekillerinin yeniden işlenmesiyle şekillenen alanlardır (Ryder, 1971a;Church ve Ryder, 1972;Ballantyne, 2002;Slaymaker, 2007;Knight ve Harrison, 2009;Slaymaker, 2011). Periglasiyal ortamlar donma, çözülme ve permafrostla ilişkili süreçlerin hâkim olduğu alanlardır.…”

The cryosphere and glacial permafrost as its integral component

“…One of the latest results is the new concept of "krio-conditioning" which underscores the interconnected roles of periglacial, glacial and azonal processes in the development of cold region landscapes [6,7]. Of other concepts, periglacial, paraglacial and proglacial are essential for a comprehensive understanding of glaciated environments, and reframing them has been undertaken recently by O. Slaymaker [8].…”