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<p>As in glaciology, periglacial processes also occur in tropical regions, where altitude is the main controlling factor. Intertropical mountains that rise above the treeline (~ 4000&#xa0;m a.s.l.) are exposed to various surface freezing dynamics, whether permanent, seasonal, or diurnal. However, the high elevation where periglacial dynamics occur means that in situ studies are scarce and observations are temporally limited. Consequently, atmosphere-soil interactions in tropical high mountains remain poorly understood. While the formation of needle ice and frost heave are relatively common processes in temperate and cold climates at mid- and high latitudes, their origin is still mainly understood through theoretical approaches and laboratory experiments conducted under controlled conditions. As a result, studies of these phenomena in tropical mountain regions are almost nonexistent. Given the above, and considering its importance not only from a climatic perspective but also because it is associated with the prevalence of unconsolidated soils susceptible to removal by solifluction on mountain steep slopes, this research documents a specific occurrence in one of Mexico’s high mountains and provides an approach to understanding these processes from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. The study was conducted using air temperature, soil temperature at different depths, relative humidity, precipitation, and wind speed as the main variables. The results show the formation and growth of needle ice up to 7&#xa0;cm in length, resulting from the availability of water in the soil and the thermal gradient within the first few centimeters of the surface, which causes the upward movement of unconsolidated soil particles.</p>

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Needle ice and frost heave in periglacial soils of a tropical mountain: a theoretical and empirical climatological approach to a case study on Cofre de Perote volcano, Mexico

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月23日

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  • Víctor Soto

摘要

As in glaciology, periglacial processes also occur in tropical regions, where altitude is the main controlling factor. Intertropical mountains that rise above the treeline (~ 4000 m a.s.l.) are exposed to various surface freezing dynamics, whether permanent, seasonal, or diurnal. However, the high elevation where periglacial dynamics occur means that in situ studies are scarce and observations are temporally limited. Consequently, atmosphere-soil interactions in tropical high mountains remain poorly understood. While the formation of needle ice and frost heave are relatively common processes in temperate and cold climates at mid- and high latitudes, their origin is still mainly understood through theoretical approaches and laboratory experiments conducted under controlled conditions. As a result, studies of these phenomena in tropical mountain regions are almost nonexistent. Given the above, and considering its importance not only from a climatic perspective but also because it is associated with the prevalence of unconsolidated soils susceptible to removal by solifluction on mountain steep slopes, this research documents a specific occurrence in one of Mexico’s high mountains and provides an approach to understanding these processes from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. The study was conducted using air temperature, soil temperature at different depths, relative humidity, precipitation, and wind speed as the main variables. The results show the formation and growth of needle ice up to 7 cm in length, resulting from the availability of water in the soil and the thermal gradient within the first few centimeters of the surface, which causes the upward movement of unconsolidated soil particles.