Earth’s Cryosphere, 2011, Vol. XV, No. 3, p. 61-70

TERMODENUDATION IN THE COASTAL ZONE OF THE LYAKHOVSKY ISLANDS (INTERPRETATION OF AEROSPACE IMAGES)

E.I. Pizhankova

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Department of Geology, 119992, Moscow, Leninskie Gory, Russia, eipijankova@rambler.ru

The interpretation of aerospace images obtained within 50 years allowed us to establish the important space and time regularities of the Ice Complex thermal denudation caused by thermal abrasion on the coast of the Lyakhovsky Islands. Three types of coasts have been identified according to the ratio of velocities of thermal abrasion and thermal denudation. The rates of thermal denudation, the size of thermo-terraces have been estimated. For the Bol. Lyakhovsky Island the comparison of these parameters for the shores of southern and north-eastern exposures are presented. A variety of natural factors affecting the destructive processes on the coast has been determined. The parameters of coastal dynamics on the shores with different cryolitological structures have been obtained.

Key words: Remote sensing data, coastal dynamics, Ice Complex, Alas Complex, thermal denudation, thermo-terrace, thermal abrasion.

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