On solifluction and patterned ground in the southeastern Iranian High Mountains

Abstract

Article in German.

ORIGINAL TITLE: Über solifluktion und strukturböden in S. E.-Iranischen Hochgebirgen

In the high mountains, south of Kerman, widespread solifluction features were investigated. The typical and characteristic forms are: frost-heaving in soils, ground buds, stone pavements, textured grounds, sorted and nonsorted circles, sorted polygons, sorted (stone) and earth stripes, solifluction lobes, terracettes and sliding boulders. Due to frequent occurrence the amorphous solifluction phenomena are of greatest significance. The results of field study show that solifluction features in this arid and semi-arid mountainous area are very similar in character to forms occurring in periglacial zones in mountainous areas of other climatic regions. The lower limit of patterned grounds runs between 2400-2600 m, and of solifluction it runs between 1900-2100 m. These unexpected low limit results from the cold and moist climate in winters and from scarce vegetation. Above the optimal zone of the occurrence of periglacial features their intensity in distribution and characteristics is decreasing. This observation suggests an upper limit of solifluction processes.