Vol. XXVII, No. 6 (November – December 2023)
Full issue: EC_6_2023_eng_opt.pdf
CONTENTS
REGIONAL AND HISTORICAL GEOCRYOLOGY
Kalinicheva S.V., Nikiforova N.N., Misaylov I.E., Plotnikov N.A., Fedorov A.N. Permafrostlandscape conditions in the Anabar River basin at the tundra–woodland intereface under conditions of modern climate warming
AbstractThe results of studies carried out at the tundra–woodland interface in the Anabar region of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in order to trace the dynamics of permafrost landscapes and identify the influence of vegetation on the soil temperature regime and seasonal thawing depth are presented. The overgrowing of tundra with larch trees took place during the second period of long-term warming in the Arctic (1979–2011). The displacement of tundra communities by woodland communities has changed permafrost conditions in the region. Thus, according to our data, the maximum depth of seasonal thawing is reached in the tundra area; the depth of seasonal thawing decreases with an increase in the woodland density. On the contrary, permafrost temperature has minimum values in the tundra area and increases under woodland. In this paper, the results of the first stage of the study are presented. Further monitoring studies are planned in the area under consideration.Keywordspermafrost, permafrost landscapes, tundra, climate change, overgrowing of tundra with trees.
- Osadchaya G.G., Pizhankova E.I. Permafrost-landscape conditions of the Bolshezemel’skaya Tundra and their mapping based on remote sensing data
AbstractAn overview geocryological map (1:1,000,000 scale) for an area of 136 700 km2 covering a significant part of the Bolshezemel’skaya Tundra was compiled on the basis of large-scale field permafrost-landscape surveys and interpretation of medium-resolution Landsat-7 satellite images. The method of landscape indication implemented in relation to geocryological subzones was used. Spatial variability of geocryological characteristics was analyzed at the levels of natural subzones and groups of dominant landscape units.Keywordsgeocryological mapping, remote sensing data, landscape indication, geocryological subzones
GEOLOGICAL CRYOGENIC PROCESSES AND FORMATIONS
- Makarieva O.M., Shikhov A.N., Zemlianskova A.A., Alexeev V.R., Nesterova N.V., Ostashov A.A. Giant aufeis in the Northeast of Russia acсording to the Cadaster of 1958 and satellite images of 1973–2021
AbstractData on the actual maximum area of 71 largest (>10 km2) aufeis in the northeast of Russia have been obtained from Landsat images for the period of 2013–2018 (661 km2) and Sentinel-2 images for the period of 2020–2021 (838 km2). The total area of aufeis is at least twice as small as the area of their glades indicated in the Aufeis Cadaster of 1958 (1680 km2). The aufeis area for 1973–1975 (before the beginning of the warm period) has also been estimated for 42 objects according to Landsat/MSS data. It reached 555 km2, which is close to the modern estimate for 2020–2021 (581 km2) and, on average, is 1.9 times smaller than the total area of aufeis according to the Cadaster (1083 km2). Individual giant aufeis demonstrate very high interannual variability: their area can change by up to two times (100%) from year to year; for most aufeis glades, interannual variability is about 20%. Numerous examples point to discrepancy between the boundaries of aufeis glades and the boundaries of ice massifs. The total area of aufeis glades, including those indicated in the Cadaster of 1958 and identified at the modern satellite images, significantly exceeds the actual area of aufeis. Estimating the area of aufeis (even the maximum for the long-term period) on the basis of data on the size of aufeis glades can lead to significant errors in the calculation of dynamic reserves of aufeis-forming groundwater and other characteristics. In the period after 1973–1975, no significant changes in the total aufeis area have been identified in the northeast of Russia. Further field studies of the giant aufeis, including the establishment of long-term monitoring sites, are important for understanding the factors of their temporal variability.Keywordsgiant aufeis, Landsat images, Aufeis Cadaster (1958), aufeis glade, Northeast of Russia
GASES AND GAS HYDRATES IN THE EARTH’S CRYOSPHERE
- Chuvilin E.M., Ekimova V.V., Davletshina D.A., Bukhanov B.A., Krivokhat E.O. Salt transfer in frozen methane hydrate-containing sediments during their interaction with saline solutions
AbstractThis study is devoted to experimental modeling of the interaction of frozen hydrate-saturated sandy sediments with salt solutions at subzero temperatures. It is shown that the migration of salt ions in frozen hydratecontaining sands is more active than in frozen hydrate-free sands. Gas pressure proves to be one of the main factors controlling the intensity of migration of salt ions in frozen sands containing gas hydrates in contrast to frozen hydrate-free sands. With an increase in gas pressure and a decrease in temperature, the intensity of salt transfer in frozen hydrate-containing sands decreases, while the preservation of pore hydrates increases. Based on experimental data, the parameters of salt transfer in frozen hydrate-containing sand (salt flux density, diffusion coefficient) depending on gas pressure and ambient temperature have been obtained for the first time.Keywordspermafrost, gas hydrate, salt migration, pressure influence, hydrate dissociation, self-preservation, methane emission
PERMAFROST MICROBIOLOGY
- Ryzhmanova Ya.V., Trubitsyn V.E., Rivkina E.M., Suzina N.E., Plotnikov A.O., Kataev V.Ya., Molchanov M.V., Molochkov N.V., Shcherbakova V.A. New psychroactive bacteria of cryopegs of the Yamal Peninsula
AbstractThe diversity and metabolic potential of microbial communities in insufficiently studied Yamal Peninsula cryopegs are presented. The total number of microorganisms within cryopegs was high and reached 106–108 cells/mL. At the same time, sulfate-reducing bacteria were only found in two out of three studied cryopegs in numbers not exceeding 103 cells/mL. Members of the bacterial genera Acetobacterium (strains K1/0, K1/6 =VKM B-3638, K1/7, K1/8), Labilibaculum (K2ST, =VKM B-3650T), and Trichococcus (K1TrT, =VKM B-3651Т) were isolated from cryopegs for the first time. All isolates were psychroactive bacteria able to grow at 6°C.Keywordspermafrost, cryopeg, Yamal, sulfate-reducing bacteria, psychrophiles, Acetobacterium, Labilibaculum, Trichococcus
METHODS OF CRYOSPHERIC RESEARCH
- Gagarin L.A., Baishev N.E., Melnikov A.E. Interpretation signs of groundwater icings on Sentinel-1 radar images on examples of the Verkhnyaya Nerungra and Samokit aufeis of Southern Yakutia
AbstractSynthetic aperture radar (SAR) images Sentinel-1 were used to detail the structure of aufeis and characteristic features of aufeis landscapes in the valleys of Verkhnyaya Neyungra and Samokit rivers (southern Yakutia). Based on the results of preliminary image analysis, the ranges of typical backscatter signals within the ice glade were established, and representative points characterizing various components of the aufeis landscape were chosen. The type of surface of the aufeis landscape (ice, open water, snow cover, rock, etc.) was preliminarily diagnosed using Sentinel-2 images. During field work, the vertical structure of the aufeis landscape and its surface were studied at the chosen test plots. As a result, the ranges of backscattering of the radio signal for copolarization (VV) and cross-polarization (VH) modes characteristic of the four cross-section types of the aufeis landscape were determined. Based on SAR images, the structure of the aufeis body could be detailed: areas of river flow under the ice and places of groundwater discharge were identified. At the final stage, aufeis areas at the end of winter in the Samokit and Verkhnyaya Neryungra river valleys were determined on the basis of Sentinel-1 SAR images and the normalized difference snow index (NDSI) calculated from Sentinel-2 images; the discrepancy between the obtained estimates was assessed.Keywordsicing (aufeis), radar image, remote sensing research methods, Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, normalized difference snow index
CHRONICLE
- Malkova G.V., Ponomareva O.E. Dmitry Stepanovich Drozdov (on the 70th anniversary)
AbstractThe article reflects the main milestones of the scientific activity of Dmitry Stepanovich Drozdov, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, Chief Researcher, Deputy Director for Research of Earth Cryosphere Institute (Tyumen Scientific Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences), and Associate chief editor of the Earth’s Cryosphere journal. D.S. Drozdov is a well-known specialist in the field of structuring and forecasting the state of geosystems in the permafrost zone. He pays special attention to the regional permafrost studies, permafrost monitoring, and technogenesis of the geological environment.Keywordspermafrost, geosystems, mapping, monitoring, technogenesis
- Zhang R.V., Alekseeva O.I., Metlyaeva E.A. On the 90th anniversary of Georgii Petrovich Kuzmin – permafrost researcher and inventor
AbstractOn February 13, 2023, Georgii Petrovich Kuzmin, an outstanding permafrost researcher, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Engineering, Honored Scientist of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), and Chief Researcher at the Melnikov Permafrost Institute celebrated his 90th birthday. In this paper, the milestones of his biography and the main areas of his versatile scientific activity are elucidated. His great role in mastering natural resources of cold in permafrost areas for practical purposes is emphasized.Keywordsfrozen ground, permafrost, underground structures, cryogenic resources, borehole hydraulicking,
cooling systems
- Gavrilov A.V., Chizhova N.I., Pizhankova E.I., Derevyagin A.Yu., Ospennikov E.N. In memoriam: Alexander Borisovich Chizhov (May 20, 1938–August 31, 2023)
AbstractOn February 13, 2023, Georgii Petrovich Kuzmin, an outstanding permafrost researcher, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Engineering, Honored Scientist of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), and Chief Researcher at the Melnikov Permafrost Institute celebrated his 90th birthday. In this paper, the milestones of his biography and the main areas of his versatile scientific activity are elucidated. His great role in mastering natural resources of cold in permafrost areas for practical purposes is emphasized.Keywordsfrozen ground, permafrost, underground structures, cryogenic resources, borehole hydraulicking,
cooling systems