On the exogenous process called privation

Abstract

Nivation is an intensive thermogenous process of rocks' destruction which acts near snow banks in spring and summer, it is widespread in mountains and high latitudes. The privation results from the solar energy which causes sharp contrast in temperatures of bare rock surface near the snow, surface under the snow and air near the surface. The intensity of privation, the rate of rocks' destruction is controlled by amplitude and frequency of the temperatures fluctuations within the active layer near the snow's boundary, effective heat capacity and coefficient of thermal expansion. Being a thermogenous process the privation acts not only near the snow banks but glaciers and icings as well.