Palsas

The researchers used red-tinged landforms called "palsas" -- small, lichen-covered hills that form over frozen peat bogs -- as an indicator of the state of the permafrost in an area along the southeast coast of James Bay. ❋ [email protected] (Canwest News Service: (2010)

To track the retreat, Payette and his colleagues looked at distinctive plant-covered mounds called palsas that form naturally over ice in the soil of northern peat bogs. ❋ Optimum Population Trust News Watch (2010)

The researchers measured the retreat of the permafrost border by observing hummocks known as "palsas," which form naturally over ice contained in the soil of northern peat bogs. ❋ PhysOrg Team (2010)

During the study, researchers measured the retreat of the permafrost border by observing hummocks known as "palsas," which form naturally over ice contained in the soil of northern peat bogs. ❋ News Account (2010)

The forms reflect the differences caused by environmental factors including the origin of the water (rainwater, groundwater flow, and water bodies), differential peat development and permafrost (palsas and polygons). ❋ Unknown (2008)

"If this trend keeps up, what is left of the palsas in the James Bay bogs will disappear altogether in the near future, and it is likely that the permafrost will suffer the same fate," concludes the researcher affiliated to the Centre d'études nordiques. ❋ Unknown (2010)

A second assessment in 2005 revealed that the number of palsas present in these two bogs had decreased over the course of one year by 86% and 90% respectively. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Helicopter flyovers between the 51st and 55th parallels also revealed that the palsas are in an advanced state of deterioration over the entire James Bay area. ❋ Unknown (2010)

They noted at that time that only two of the bogs contained palsas, whereas aerial photos taken in 1957 showed palsas present in all of the bogs. ❋ Unknown (2010)