Earth’s Cryosphere, 2017, Vol. XXI, No. 5, p. 24-35
ICE WEDGES IN THE MAYN RIVER VALLEY AND WINTER AIR PALEOTEMPERATURES IN THE SOUTHERN CHUKCHI PENINSULA AT 38–12 KYR BP
Yu.K.Vasil’chuk, A.C.Vasil’chuk
Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Geography and Geology, 1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119991, Russia
Tyumen State University, 6, Volodarskogo str., Tyumen, 625003, Russia; vasilch_geo@mail.ru
We studied the structure and composition of Late Pleistocene cyclic ice wedge complexes in the Mayn River Valley and syngenetic ice wedges in adjacent areas of the Southern Chukchi Peninsula. Analysis of stable isotopes (δ18O and δD) and major ion chemistry of ice, as well as radiocarbon ages and pollen spectra of the host sediments, allowed detailed quantitative evaluation of changes in Late Pleistocene permafrost and climate conditions of the area, between 38 and 12 Kyr BP. The study has confirmed the previous inference that winters were much colder than now in the latest Pleistocene and rather severe during the Holocene optimum.
Ice wedge, Holocene, Late Pleistocene, permafrost, stable isotopes, heavy oxygen, deuterium, radiocarbon, pollen and spores, Mayn River, Southern Chukchi Peninsula