Topographic asymmetry due to insulation

Abstract

Various kinds of the asymmetry in topography are discussed which are typical of glacial, periglacial, humid temperate and semiarid zones. Differences in insulation of differently f acing slopes account for various rates of glacial erosion, solifluction landslides and earthflows, creep and fluvial erosion. In general case most heated are the slopes facing SSW. The direction of maximum disymmerty deviates from S-N line by 25o on the average, probably due to discrepancy between diurnal march of insulation and surf ace heating (peaks of these curves do not coincide in time).