Cartographie géomorphologique et biophysique appliquée à la géomorphologie périglaciaire : région de Schefferville, Québec-Labrador central

Abstract

A geomorphological map is produced in the Schefferville area and joined to a biophysical map to observe relationships between periglacial landforms and their geomorphological and biophysical environment and between periglacial landforms themselves. Identification of these interrelations, by means of map analysis, allow assessment of the conditions controlling development of the region's periglacial landforms. The geomorphological map includes seven layers representing respectively surficial geology, glacial geomorphology, circles, non-sorted steps, other patterned ground destructive cryonival landforms and periglacial organigenic landforms. The biophysical map includes eight layers representing moss and herbaceous strata, forest density, tree height, hypsometry, slope gradients, convexity-concavity, slope orientation and snow cover. The results permit identification of optimum development conditions for several of the landforms. Mapping of periglacial geomorphology also proves to be a very good tool for mapping permafrost.