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Related Experiment Videos

Self-organization of sorted patterned ground.

M A Kessler1, B T Werner

  • 1Complex Systems Laboratory, Cecil and Ida Green Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. mkessler@es.ucsc.edu

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|January 18, 2003
PubMed
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Self-organizing stone and soil patterns in cold environments arise from freeze-thaw cycles. These cycles create feedback loops that sort materials and move stones, forming distinct circular, polygonal, and striped landscapes.

Area of Science:

  • Geomorphology
  • Environmental Science
  • Soil Science

Background:

  • Polar and high alpine regions exhibit striking self-organized patterns of stones and soil.
  • These patterned ground features include circles, labyrinths, polygons, and stripes.
  • The formation of these patterns is linked to environmental conditions, particularly freeze-thaw cycles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the underlying mechanisms driving the self-organization of patterned ground.
  • To understand the interplay of feedback mechanisms in geomorphological pattern formation.
  • To model the emergence of different patterned ground morphologies based on physical processes.

Main Methods:

  • Development and implementation of a numerical model simulating freeze-thaw cycles.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Incorporation of two key feedback mechanisms: ice lens formation and stone domain squeezing.
  • Analysis of model outputs under varying conditions to identify pattern-forming controls.

    • Main Results:

    • The model successfully reproduces various patterned ground features, including circles, labyrinths, islands, polygonal networks, and stripes.
    • Pattern type is contingent on the dominance of specific feedback mechanisms: sorting (circles, labyrinths, islands) versus stone domain confinement (polygons).
    • Hillslope gradient was identified as a critical factor in the formation of striped patterns.

    Conclusions:

    • Freeze-thaw cycles are the primary drivers of self-organized stone and soil patterns in cold environments.
    • The interplay between ice lens sorting and stone transport/confinement dictates the resulting geomorphological patterns.
    • Numerical modeling provides a robust framework for understanding the complex processes of patterned ground formation.