Ice lens

An ice lens is an elevation in the ground that occurs when there is frost and cohesive ground .

The reason for this is the capillary effect , which makes it possible to transport groundwater from a depth of up to 50 m to the frost penetration depth (in Germany between 20 and 120 cm in winter). The water collects there, freezes and raises the ground. As the groundwater is constantly being replenished, the ice accumulations and the elevations above are getting bigger and bigger.

A countermeasure is, for example, the use of non-cohesive soil with a foundation of 80 to 120 cm.

See also

• Palsa
• Pingo
• Frost bake

literature

• Frank Ahnert: Introduction to Geomorphology. P.117 Partial view , pingos, palsas and thufurs.
• Ludwig Bendel: Engineering Geology: A Handbook for Study and Practice. S.54f Partial view .