New research study published Oct. 5 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences documents, for the first time, how ice needles produce detailed patterns of stone in numerous landscapes. The work verifies more than a centurys worth of scientific speculation about the relationship in between ice needles and stone patterns, said study coauthor Bernard Hallet, a geologist at the University of Washington. Due to the fact that a stack of stones is heavier than a single pebble, ice needles arent able to push the stones once they reach a high sufficient concentration. Stones on flat ground tended to form swirls and loops, while stones on a gentle slope tended to organize into rows.Not all soil is porous enough to form ice needles; normally, soils high in silt or organic matter work best, according to research released in the journal Arctic and Alpine Research. (Image credit: NASA/ JPL)Though this process is much less significant than ice needles pressing aside stones, it can still trigger small pebbles and dust to move over time.
The work verifies more than a centurys worth of clinical speculation about the relationship in between ice needles and stone patterns, said research study coauthor Bernard Hallet, a geologist at the University of Washington. Because a pile of stones is heavier than a single pebble, ice needles arent able to push the stones once they reach a high enough concentration. Stones on flat ground tended to form loops and swirls, while stones on a gentle slope tended to arrange into rows.Not all soil is permeable enough to form ice needles; generally, soils high in silt or natural matter work best, according to research study published in the journal Arctic and Alpine Research.