Earth’s Cryosphere, 2020, vol. XXIV, No. 1, pp. 29-36
10.21782/EC2541-9994-2020-1(29-36)

THE SHEAR MECHANISM FOR THE PINGO GROWTH

V.P. Marakhtanov

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Geography,
1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119991, Russia; ecolog_n@mail.ru

Conditions of formation and morphology of injection frost mounds (bul-gunniakh, pingo) can find a strict physical explanation from the point of view of mechan-ics of frozen soils. In the frames of hypothesis of shear mechanism, the mathematical description of conditions of emergence and growth of pingo has been given. A formula for calculating the diameter of their upper surface and slope steepness depending on the composition and soil temperature of the ground has been suggested. The actual data in favor of the hypothesis of the shear mechanism of formation of injectable of pingo have been adduced.

Key words: Frost mound, shear mechanism, bulgunniakh, pingo

Please cite as:

Marakhtanov V.P.The shear mechanism for the pingo growth. Earth’s Cryosphere, 2020, vol. XXIV, No. 1, pp. 29–36, DOI: 10.21782/EC2541-9994-2020-1(29-36)