The downslope flow of soil in association with ground ice, occurring in periglacial environments, where water cannot percolate through the permafrost. Gengnian et al. (1995) Permaf. & Perig. Procs 6, 3 find that abundant groundwater, fine grained sediments, and slopes 10°–30° favour gelifluction. Harris et al. (2003) ESPL 28, 12 argue that gelifluction is elasto-plastic in nature.