Earth’s Cryosphere, 2010, Vol. XIV, No. 3, p. 61-68

GEOCRYOLOGICAL RISKS UNDER CONTEMPORARY CLIMATE CHANGES AND ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

I.E. Trofimova, S.A. Makarov, A.S. Balybina, M.Yu. Opekunova

V.B. Sochava Institute of Geography, SB RAS, 664033, Irkutsk, Ulan-Batorskaya str., 1, P/О box 4027, Russia, balybina@irigs.irk.ru, makarov@irigs.irk.ru

Long-term observation data from meteorological stations have been used to assess the permafrost-thermal regime of the 3.2 m thick soil layer on the territory of the southern part of the Siberian platform. The types of this regime have been marked out for summer and winter seasons. The regional characteristics of the soil temperature response to contemporary climate changes have been examined. It has been pointed out that during the period 1964–2000, the increase of summer soil temperatures exceeded the increase of winter temperatures, and that the depth of climatic variations of the temperature reached 3.2 m. The schematic map of the distribution of the permafrost areas along the Kovykta–Zhigalovo gas pipeline route has been presented. A qualitative forecast of the behavior of high-temperature permafrost in the technogeneous conditions has been provided. Measures for the minimization of the effects of the cryogenic processes are recommended.

Key words: Climate change, soil temperature, snow cover, permafrost, cryogenic processes.