IMPLICATIONS OF FROST HEAVE FOR PATTERNED-GROUND, TIBET PLATEAU, CHINA

Field measurements on two well-drained slopes on the Tibet Plateau ind icate that active-layer frost heave ranges between 4.3 and 7.7 cm yr(- 1) and the frost-heave strain is between 3.6 and 6.1%. These values ar e low relative to others documented in the Literature. It is concluded that the moisture-poor nature of the Tibet Plateau produces an active layer without mid-portion desiccation (contraction). This may explain the general absence of frost-induced circles and other patterned-grou nd phenomena on the plateau.