SEASONAL VARIABILITY IN CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF ANTHROPOGENIC CRYOPEGS WITHIN YAKUTSK CITY
N.A. Pavlova, M.V. Danzanova
Melnikov Permafrost Institute, SB RAS, 36, Merzlotnaya str., Yakutsk, 677010, Russia; na-pavlova@yandex.ru
Long-term and seasonal variations in major- and trace-element compositions of groundwaters in anthropogenic cryopegs stripped by boreholes in unconsolidated alluvial sediments have been monitored for thirty years at a site within Yakutsk city. Suprapermafrost cryopegs became less saline for the past five to seven years as a result of climate change in many previous years. The obtained data on chemistry and flow dynamics of groundwaters indicate enhanced hydraulic connectivity of cryopegs in the active layer. The ongoing ground temperature warming will lead to general decrease in the contents of highly soluble salts in suprapermafrost cryopegs and to increase in trace element abundances in pore waters.
Suprapermafrost cryopeg, intrapermafrost cryopeg, water chemistry, major and trace elements, long-term regime