In situ creep of frozen soil, Fenghuo Shan, Tibet Plateau, China

Abstract

Field measurements of frozen soil creep in the upper 3.0 m of permafrost indicate that creep occurs in both winter and summer. Between 1992 and 1993, the mean rate of creep ranged from 0.44 cm at 1.6 m depth to 0.16 cm at 2.8 m depth but there was extreme variability. Creep parameters n and A, as defined by the power flow law, were calculated from field data. Parameter n ranged between 1.96 and 2.29 and increased with depth, while A decreased with depth. Comparisons of creep rates for different permafrost environments suggest that ground temperature largely controls the magnitude of permafrost creep. Key words : permafrost, creep parameters, Tibet Plateau.