On the glacial and periglacial problems in Czechoslovakia

Abstract

Article in German.

ORIGINAL TITLE: Über die glaziale und periglaziale problematik in der Tschechoslowakei

Czechoslovakia has a very advantageous position for the study of glacial and periglacial phenomena. In the Pleistocene period, the CSR was situated between the Scandinavian glacier and that of the Alps. The northern glacier penetrated up to the inland. The higher mountains, especially Sumava and Krkonose, were glaciated separately. In Slovakia, most of the High Tatra were covered with glaciers. 21 glacial valleys were formed. The longest was 14 kms in length.

Traces of ice-action were discovered by Zejszner more than 100 years ago. As regards other research workers, Partsch was the most eminent of all. He solved the problem of the number of glacial periods and of the recessional phases of the last (Würm) glaciation. In their recent works, Romer and Halicki disagree with the number of two -three glacial periods. The author has recognised that a series of Würmian moraines and their recessional stages are analogous to those of Bühl, Gschnitz and Daun in the Alps. Nowadays there are only firn fields in the High Tatra. Some of them survived over many years and have developed various morphological formations such as true glaciers.

Periglacial phenomena have also been observed for the last century. The most widespread are frost wedges which are visible in the artificial cuts. In the mountainous areas frost-soil forms are found directly on the surface. The polygonal soils of the Krkonose have been described by Hëgbom as early as in 1914. In recent years, numerous frost-soil forms have been discovered, especially in the area of Tatra National Park. The problem, whether these forms are exclusively fossil or recent, has not yet been explicitly resolved.