Nivation

Nivation is the set of geomorphic processes associated with snow patches. The primary processes are mass wasting and the freeze-and-thaw cycle,[1] in which fallen snow gets compacted into firn or névé. The importance of the processes covered by the term nivation with regard to the development of periglacial landscapes has been questioned by scholars, and the use of the term is discouraged.[2]

Nivation has come to include various subprocesses related to snow patches which may be immobile or semi-permanent. These sub-processes include erosion (if any) or initiation of erosion, weathering, and meltwater flow from beneath the snow patch.[3]

Weathered particles are moved downslope by creep, solifluction and rill wash.[1] Over time, this leads to the formation of nivation hollows which, when enlarged, can be the beginnings of a cirque.[1]

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Easterbrook, Don J. (1999). Surface Processes and Landforms (2nd ed.). New Jersey: Prentice Hall. p. 334. ISBN 0-13-860958-6.
2. ↑ André, Marie-Françoise (2002). "Do periglacial landscapes evolve under periglacial conditions?". Geomorphology 1-2 (52): 149–164. doi:10.1016/S0169-555X(02)00255-6.
3. ↑ Potter, Franklin C. (September 1949), "Nivation", Crater Lake Nature Notes XV (1), http://www.nps.gov/archive/crla/notes/vol15b.htm#3

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Periglacial environment

Landforms|

* Blockfield
* Bratschen
* Cryoplanation terrace
* Glacial erratic
* Paha
* Palsa
* Periglacial lake
* Pingo
* Protalus rampart
* Rock glacier
* Strandflat
* Glaciokarst
* Thermokarst

| Patterned ground|

* Frost boil
* Polygons
* Solifluction lobes and sheets
* Sorted stripe
* Stone ring

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Processes|

* Cryoplanation
* Cryosuction
* Cryoturbation
* Fluvio-thermal erosion
* Frost heave
* Frost weathering
* Gelifluction
* Ice segregation
* Methane release
* Nivation
* Solifluction
* Syngenetic permafrost growth
* Zero-curtain effect

Soils and deposits|

* Active layer
* Gelisols
* Ice wedge
* Loess
* Peat
* Permafrost
* Stratified slope deposit
* Talik
* Yedoma

Biomes and ecotones|

* Arctic tundra
* Arctic tree line
* Antarctic oasis
* Antarctic tundra
* Montane grasslands and shrublands
* Alpine tundra
* Alpine tree line (Massenerhebung effect)
* Taiga (Drunken trees)

Climate|

* Alpine
* Polar
* Subpolar

* Category:Periglacial landforms
* Template:Glaciers

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