CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ACTIVE LAYERS ON FILDES PENINSULA OF KING GEORGE ISLAND, ANTARCTICA

From the data of the pitting, geoelectrical prospecting, temperature measurement, salt content analysis and detection by layering frost-heaving instruments, the authors discuss firstly the structural features of sediments in the active layers in this region, and proves the presence of the bowl-shaped frost table in the stone-circles area, and then analyse the regulatities of temperature distribution in the active layer, effect of salt content on electric resistivity, thaw-settlement and frost-heaving, and their control on periglacial land-form development. It suggests that the five layers should exist in the subsurface structure , namely, active layer, frost sand and gravel layer, frost volcanic rock permeated by sea water, frost volcanic rock unperme-ated by sea water, and unfrost ancient continental basement. Finally, the permafrost table and its vertical gradient are deduced.