freeze-thaw cycle

…glaciers, a zone of intense freeze-thaw activity produces periglacial features and landforms. This happens because of the unique behaviour of water as it changes from the liquid to the solid state. As water freezes, its volume increases about 9 percent. This is often combined with the process of differential ice…

The thawing of permafrost creates thermokarst topography, an uneven surface that contains mounds, sinkholes, tunnels, caverns, and steep-walled ravines caused by melting of ground ice. The hummocky ground surface resembles karst topography in limestone areas. Thawing may result from artificial or natural removal of vegetation or…

…are a result of the freeze-thaw cycle common to the tundra and are especially common in spring and fall. In alpine regions, surface features such as rock rings, stripes, and polygons are seen, usually measuring 15 to 30 cm (6 to 12 inches) across. Where there is adequate moisture for…

…the factors mentioned above, this freeze-thaw cycle sets the tundra apart from two ecosystems frequently found adjacent to it—the icy polar barrens on the one hand and the evergreen taiga on the other. Permafrost—perennially frozen ground—is a significant feature of the Arctic tundra; however, it does not typically occur in…