Cryoplanation

In geomorphology, cryoplanation or is a term used to both describe and explain the formation of plains, terraces and pediments in periglacial environments.[1] Uncertainty surrounds the term,[1] and the effectiveness of the cryoplanation process is held to be limited meaning it can only produce small terraces.[2] Instead, many of so-called cryoplanation terraces are likely an expression of the underlying lithology and rock structure rather than being unique products of cold-climate processes.[3][4]

Cryoplanation can be seen as a variant of pediplanation that is restricted to cold climates.[2] All the cryoplanation surfaces that exist at present date to the Quaternary.[2]

  1. ^ a b Thorn, Colin E. (2004). "Cryoplanation". In Goudie, A.S. (ed.). Encyclopedia of Geomorphology. pp. 204–205.
  2. ^ a b c Migoń, Piotr (2004). "Planation surface". In Goudie, A.S. (ed.). Encyclopedia of Geomorphology. pp. 788–792.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference French2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Grabetal2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).