Terrain parameters and remote sensing data in the analysis of permafrost distribution and periglacial processes:: Principles and examples from southern Norway

Alpine permafrost and frost-related geomorphological processes are sensitive to climatic change. Thus, there is an increasing demand for permafrost maps in high-alpine environments. The objective of this paper is to present the application of terrain analysis and classification based on digital elevation models (DEMs) together with remotely sensed data (e.g, Landsat TM) in mapping of permafrost and slope activity as a supplement to existing methods. The study reviews principles and recent developments in this field, and presents three different approaches in the form of case studies from mountain areas of southern Norway. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.