palsa

topography

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July 1, 2026

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Palsas are low hills and knobs of perennially frozen peat, typically measuring 1.5 to 6 meters (approximately 5 to 20 feet) in height. They form in areas with permafrost, often near the southern boundary of its distribution. The formation of palsas is linked to the accumulation of peat and the segregation of ice within the peat. These features are distinct from other permafrost-related landforms like pingos, which are larger ice-cored hills, and thermokarst formations, which result from the thawing of ground ice and create uneven topography with sinkholes and ravines.12

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permafrost
Pingos
…southern border of permafrost occur palsas, low hills and knobs of perennially frozen peat about 1.5 to 6 metres (roughly 5 to 20 feet) high, evidently forming with accumulation of peat and segregation of ice.
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…southern border of permafrost occur palsas, low hills and knobs of perennially frozen peat about 1.5 to 6 metres (roughly 5 to 20 feet) high, evidently forming with accumulation of peat and segregation of ice.
Read More