Abstract:

The Larsemann Hills is ice free and formed in the Holocene. It consists of a series of rocky peninsulas and islets in the Prydz Bay. The most obvious geomorphic process operating on the landscape is aeolian and frost physical weathering. The intensity and frequency of wind force are very high. The monthly average wind spleed can start the coarse sand and fine gravel. The high speed air flow is not saturated with sand and snow grains.It restricts the aeolian sedimentary and erosion process. That is the principal reason for the characteristics of aeolian landforms. The aeolian sedimentation consists of barrier and standstill sedimentary processes. They mainly form three types of landforms:snow blanket(snow dam), sand drift(sand land) and gravel dyke (gravel shoal). Some landforms are special and only form in cold pole environment. The geochemical parameteres of aeolian sediments are very similar with those of the bedrock. That means the transplortation distance is very short and the sedimentary site is very closed to the weathering site.