Self-organization in freezing soils: from microscopic ice lenses to patterned ground

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Abstract
Freezing in moist fine-grained soils is a highly nonhomogeneous process. It involves transport of water to freezing sites and growth of distinct ice bodies separated by soil domains free of ice. On a much larger scale, recurrent ice growth and thawing of cold regions produce a rich diversity of patterns in soils; these patterns can be defined by local relief, soil cracks, or segregation of mineral material according to size. This paper reviews the principal spatial structures characteristic of freezing soils and discusses the underlying processes in the broader context of geomorphic self-organization.

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