News Earth Freeze-thaw cycles: How not to mix soil By Sid Perkins April 3, 2007 at 5:54 pm - More than 2 years ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to print (Opens in new window) Print The repeated cycles of ground freezing and thawing that occur in many places don’t do a good job of churning the soil, a new study suggests. Freeze-thaw cycles and the burrowing of animals are among the many natural phenomena that can mix the upper layers of Earth’s soil, says James M.