Selected landforms and the ice in permafrost may be used as indicators of the direction of moisture input into perennially frozen ground. Accumulation of ice from meteoric sources from above may be the most widespread process, being dominant in the palsas, peat plateaus, and near-slope rock glaciers studied so far. It is also the main source of ice accumulation in permafrost. Pingos and seasonal frost mounds are the result of injection of ground water from below. The resulting ice content usually exceeds 90% by volume and some massive icy beds in Arctic Canada may also form in this way. Glacial ice is also proven as a source for some massive icy beds and may represent an Arctic form of ice stagnation. Segregation of ice by water moving to the freezing plane is very important in active layer processes and the initial formation of peat plateaus and palsas, but is probably of secondary importance thereafter. More work is needed to confirm these relationships and to prove the origin of near-glacier rock glaciers. However, if these relationships prove reliable, then the landforms can be used as indicators of potential sources of ice so that foundation designs can be modified to minimize heaving problems.
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