Periglacial of McMurdo Strait (Antarctica)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26485/BP/1968/17/2Keywords:
periglacial, McMurdo Strait, aeolian processes, niveo-aeolian covers, frost polygons, tafoni, palaeoclimate, AntarcticaAbstract
This article presents the results of periglacial investigations in the McMurdo Strait area of Antarctica. The author describes aeolian processes and their significance in shaping sandy deposits, with particular emphasis on dunes and niveo-aeolian covers. Special attention is given to the wind transport of quartz grains and small pebbles, as well as their implications for palaeoclimate reconstruction. Frost-related landforms (thermal contraction polygons, fissures, tafoni), the composition of morainic deposits, and the limited extent of glacial erosion compared to other regions are analysed. The study highlights the distinctive character of Antarctic periglacial processes, confined to ice-free areas (approx. 250,000–300,000 km²), and their importance for understanding both Pleistocene and present-day environmental evolution.
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