Development of a Differential Frost Heave Model: Application to Patterned Ground Formation

该奖项支持一个项目，将预测冻胀模型扩展到完整的3-D形式，以更好地理解发生在冰川周围环境中的地表模式（如土丘）的发展过程。在19种被认为是重要的机制中，无论是单独的还是组合的，只有两种机制被纳入数学模型。本工作的目标是：1)使用已发表的实验室霜胀数据来测试O Neill和Miller的一维二次霜胀模型的简化形式，该模型可以推广到三维；2)确定了基于这种简化形式的O Neill和Miller模型的新的差分冻胀模型描述土丘的能力，土丘的相关性质已被表征；3)在实验室和现场观测的基础上，对该差分冻胀模型进行细化；4)探索该模型在其他形式的地物特征描述中的适用性。除了改进冰缘过程的模型外，这项工作还将有利于研究古代地貌特征与过去气候之间的关系的研究人员，以及在冰缘地区开发建设项目的工程师。

This award supports a project to extend predictive frost heave models to full 3-D forms in an effort to better understand the processes involved in development of patterned ground, such as earth hummocks, that occurs in periglacial environments. Of the 19 mechanisms thought to be important, either singly or in combination, for formation of patterned ground, only two have been incorporated into mathematical models. The objectives of this work are: 1) to use published laboratory frost-heave data to test a simplified form of the 1-D secondary frost-heave model of O Neill and Miller which can be generalized to 3-D; 2) to ascertain the ability of a new differential frost-heave model based on this simplified form of the O Neill and Miller model to describe earth hummocks whose relevant properties have been characterized; 3) to refine this differential frost-heave model based on the laboratory and field observations; and 4) to explore the applicability of this model to describe features of other forms of patterned ground. In addition to improving models of periglacial processes, this work will benefit researchers correlating ancient geomorphic features with past climate as well as engineers developing construction projects in periglacial regions.