Patterned Ground (stone stripes), on a hilltop slope, west of Brekkur, Myrdalur, southern Iceland
These stone stripes, highlighted by the early morning sun on a hilltop slope west of Brekkur, in Southern Iceland, are an excellent example of patterned ground, whereby stones are heaved to the surface by the repeated expansion and contraction of the soil layers in cold climate areas. The volume increase caused by freezing swells the soil. Stones, heaved to the surface, roll into the depressions between the hummocks as the soil shrinks on thawing. Formed by natural processes, the stone stripes in this shot give the appearance of plough lines. Patterned ground is usually associated with the permantly frozen soils of ice fringe periglacial areas. In Iceland, especially in southern areas, such activity is a result of high levels of precipitation giving the soil a high water content, so there is a considerable volume increase when the soil freezes in winter.
Size: 5218px × 3465px
Location: Brekkur, Myrdalur, Southern Iceland
Photo credit: © robert harrison / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: activity, climate, cold, frozen, gentle, geography, geology, geomorphology, ground, hilltop, iceland, patterned, periglacial, phenomena, quaternary, rocks, science, slope, soil, stone, stones, stripes, tourism
