Term: | Unfrozen ground |
Definition: | Soil or rock that does not contain any Ice. Unfrozen Ground can be cryotic (T < 0C) if freezing-point depression prevents freezing of the pore water, or if no water is available to freeze (e.g., in Dry Permafrost). It should not be called thawed ground, unless it is known that the ground had previously contained Ice. |