• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.59-72
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• 2010

This study is based on the observation on the patterned ground found in the northern part of the Baekdusan during two fieldtrips of 2008 summer. The patterned grounds are found in two areas-Dalmun and Socheonji. The patterned ground found around Dalmun are well-sorted, having fine materials in the center and coarse (boulder size) materials in the rim, and stretching in the form of stairs. Meanwhile, the types of patterned ground found around Socheonji are various, including polygon, stripe, and circular patterns. The particle size analysis and morphological analysis of comprising materials are carried out only for the patterned ground of Socheonji. The mean short and long axis of the patterned grounds are 91cm and 163cm, respectively. The distribution pattern of material size from the most samples increase toward the rim, indicating the patterned grounds are well-sorted. The comprising materials are dominated by silt, which is very susceptible for freeze-thaw cycle. The lower ratio of clay (low less than 10%), suggests that physical weathering is more dominant rather than chemical weathering. The involution structure found in the vertical section of the patterned grounds is likely to have formed by active cryoturbation which is one of the dominant geomorphic processes in the periglacial environments like the study area.