rduerr
commented
5 years ago Well actually I think two terms (one for the process and the other for the landform) are absolutely necessary. I also think that the communities that use each term are relatively distinct (so maybe it is time to start including that information with a term). From the GCW glossary work, I had two definitions:
The process by which characteristic landforms result from the thawing of ice-rich permafrost or the melting of massive ground ice. Landforms found in Thermokarst terrain include alases, thermokarst lakes, and thermokarst mounds. - this seems to be ENVO_01001498 (permafrost community)
Landscape (or landform) dominated by depressions, pits, and caves that is created by the thawing of ground ice in high latitude locations. Resembles karst landscape but is not created by chemical weathering. - this seems to be http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/ENVO_03000085 (geology community)
I note that the massive ground ice version is usually due to a buried glacier melting out centuries after the rest of the glacier has disappeared. For example, there are ice caves in North Dakota that are exactly that - remnants of the glacier that covered that area 10,000 or so years ago. So not permafrost related at all.... So both meanings for the process are required.
pbuttigieg
For example, ENVO_01001498 could be a permafrost thawing process or a massive ground ice melting process.
Queue for discussion with Cryohackathon crew @rduerr