Geomorphological and pedological development of periglacial landforms using morphometric, mineralogical, and physicochemical techniques: Mount Akbaba Lesser Caucasus-Türkiye
SPECTROSCOPY LETTERS, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1080/00387010.2026.2665827
- Dergi Adı: SPECTROSCOPY LETTERS
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Compendex, INSPEC
- Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Periglacial processes and landforms occur in high mountains and high latitudes. The cold weather is the main factor. Freezing and thawing have formed periglacial landforms. The periglacial landforms continue to evolve. This study aims to identify and classify the types and spatial distribution of periglacial landforms on Mount Akbaba; evaluate their morphometric characteristics through field measurements and statistical analysis; and analyze the mineralogical and physicochemical properties of soils associated with periglacial landforms. Mount Akbaba (3026 m a.s.l.) near the Armenian border in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains in northeastern T & uuml;rkiye is known for its cold climate. Mount Akbaba has mud circles, stony earth circles, and non-sorted steps from periglacial landforms. Periglacial landforms border Akbaba Hill (3026 m a.s.l.) on Mount Akbaba's summit plateau. The east of Akbaba Hill has mud circles and stony earth circles, while the west has non-sorted steps. Through fieldwork, geomorphological observations, hypsometric measurements, and periglacial soil samples were collected. Statistical analyses of measured periglacial landforms were done. The height and length of non-sorted steps in periglacial landforms (82.1%), mud circles (58.5%), and stony earth circles (58.5%) were positively and statistically significantly correlated with a correlation coefficient of 0.01. The characteristics of periglacial landforms on Mount Akbaba and the physicochemical properties of the soils formed upon them are becoming evident. Three distinct periglacial landforms on volcanic substrates exhibit coarse textures and acidity. Research indicates that during soil formation processes, mud circles show increased clay formation, organic matter accumulation, and AS values compared to other landforms. As for mineralogical; vermiculite, smectite, illite, and kaolinite were identified in the periglacial landforms soil samples. In mud circle, stony earth circle, and non-sorted step soil samples, the peaks that were weakly crystallized. Pedological processes and mineralogical characteristics of soils formed under the same climatic conditions and on the same parent materials of various periglacial landforms, taxonomy of these soils was classified at the Entisol ordo described as young soils. On the other hand, mineralogical and physico-chemical differences exist in soils from distinct periglacial landforms, notwithstanding their early pedological processes. Why? Because topography, together with parent material, temperature, organisms, and time, directs soil growth, even at the local or micro level.