Solifluction is a geomorphic process involving a special type of soil flow that is noticed in

Solifluction is a geomorphic process characterized by the slow, downslope flow of water-saturated soil and regolith [1]. This phenomenon is most prominent in periglacial or permafrost regions, where the subsoil remains permanently frozen [2]. During the warmer seasons, the surface layer (active layer) thaws, but the underlying permafrost prevents the meltwater from percolating downward [2]. This results in a saturated, semi-liquid surface layer that moves easily over the frozen substrate under the influence of gravity [1]. While similar soil flows can occur in arid regions after intense storms, the term solifluction (and its specific periglacial variant, gelifluction) is fundamentally associated with the freeze-thaw cycles of tundra and Arctic landscapes [1]. These processes create distinct landforms such as solifluction lobes and terraces, which are key indicators of cold-climate geomorphology.

Sources

1. [1] Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: Weathering, Mass Movement and Groundwater > SOIL FLOW (SOLIFLUCTION) > p. 40
2. [2] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 11: World Climate and Climate Change > Tundra Climate (ET) > p. 94