Permafrost and Soil Fluction

Result of Soil Fluction
In geology, solifluction, also known as soil fluction, is a type of mass wasting where waterlogged sediment moves slowly downslope, over impermeable material. It occurs in periglacial environments where melting during the warm season leads to water saturation in the thawed surface material (active layer), causing a form of downslope "flow" to occur. This "flow" is due to frost heave that occurs normal to the slope, as well as to small-scale slippage. Where the underlying ground is permanently frozen (permafrost) the process is often called gelifluction.

Forms of Permafrost
Cold permafrost — Remains below 30° F, and which may be as low as 10° F as on the North Slope; tolerates introduction of considerable heat without thawing. Ice-rich — 20% to 50% visible ice.

Forms of Permafrost
Thaw-stable — Permafrost in bedrock, in well drained, coarse-grained sediments such as glacial outwash gravel, and in many sand and gravel mixtures. Subsidence or settlement when thawed is minor, foundation remains essentially sound.

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