Polar regions and slopes covered with permafrost host some of nature's most fascinating and complex structures. In these areas, various geometric shapes consisting of lines, circles, and polygonal patterns are frequently observed. Additionally, interesting traces called 'solifluction' (creep), which are formed by the downhill sliding of partially melting frozen ground, are found in these regions. Solifluction patterns consist of a combination of flat and terraced soil sections resembling giant stair steps, and rounded protrusions located at the base of these terraces. Understanding how these unique geological formations are shaped remains a difficult puzzle for scientists to solve for years.
Today, as the effects of climate change become more apparent day by day, grasping the dynamics of these ground movements is of great importance. Predicting when and how slopes in glacial environments will become unstable can provide vital information to prevent disasters such as avalanches and landslides. This body of knowledge is invaluable not only for Earth but also for astrophysicists and planetary scientists seeking to understand past climate conditions. Because it has been discovered that geological patterns extremely similar to those on Earth are also found on the surface of Mars. Examining these traces on the Red Planet can provide important clues about the ancient climate conditions and water cycle there.
The movement of frozen ground is extremely slow and occurs in the form of slippages of only a few millimeters or centimeters per year. However, what makes this movement complex is that the behavior of the soil can change quite unexpectedly. Due to seasonal temperature and moisture differences, frozen ground sometimes behaves like solid rock, while at other times it can move like a slowly flowing liquid. This dual behavior makes it very difficult for scientists to model and understand the process. To explain these ground movements, experts have long tried well-known fluid analogies such as paint dripping down a wall, the folds of lava, or water waves.
In a newly conducted study, scientists have combined mathematical models, physics-based computer simulations, and remote sensing data to solve this mystery. Researchers discovered that a non-Newtonian fluid called 'Oobleck', obtained by mixing cornstarch and water, shows a perfect parallel with this frozen ground behavior. Oobleck is a strange liquid that counterintuitively becomes harder and more difficult to move as the applied force increases. It is thought that differences in soil moisture content change the sliding speed of the soil, and this situation leads to soil accumulation on slopes over time, followed by a solifluction cycle that restarts through collapse.
Although this new model is quite exciting, researchers clearly state that the theory is not yet perfect. While Oobleck waves primarily reflect only the rheological, i.e., fluid structure of the material; existing frozen grounds in reality are much more complex ecological systems. According to researchers, environmental factors such as topographical roughness and vegetation in the region also play as critical a role in the formation of these patterns as the composition of the material. The presence of sufficient moisture is essential for soil accumulation and ice formation. Although researchers desire to test this model they have developed in the field, it is anticipated that field observations will be extremely difficult because the formation of these geological patterns takes hundreds, or even thousands of years.
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