Permafrost Thermal Monitoring / Landscape Dynamics
Trans-Ili Alatau, northern Tian Shan
The thermal monitoring network measures permafrost and seasonally frozen ground temperatures, as well as active layer thickness at various elevations in the discontinuous, sporadic and short-term permafrost altitudinal belts in the Trans-Ili Alatau Mountains (northern Tian-Shan). Some active boreholes have temperature records going back to 1973.
Schematic map of the Bolshaya Almatinka and Malaya Almatinka basins, northern Tian-Shan,
showing location of active boreholes (green circles), inactive boreholes (blue circles),
and permafrost-related landform and process observation areas (red squares).
Olsky Pass
Location
The Olsky Pass is located 20 km north of Magadan within the Okhotsk-Chukotka Volcanic Belt. Borehole site M-1 is in a vegetated area (dwarf birch, alder and pine) at 339 m asl with warm permafrost 65 m in thickness. Borehole site M-4 is in a bare area at 447 m elevation with 160 m thick permafrost.
History
Ground temperatures have been recorded since 2007 using data-logging systems. Climatic parameters (air and surface temperatures, snow depth and density) have been measured since 2013.
Current projects
measurements of ground temperature at depths of 3.0, 7.0, 10.0 and 14.5 m at 3 hour intervals, ground surface and air temperature at 2 m height, and snow depth and density
Ground temperatures at depths of 3, 7, 10 and 14.5 m, M-1 borehole site, Olsky Pass.
Igarka
The Igarka Geocryological Laboratory (67.45°N, 86.53°E) maintains several sites in the northern Yenisei area to monitor permafrost response to climatic change and human impacts.
Climate
Mean annual air temperature: 8.3°С
Mean January temperature: -27.6°С
Mean July temperature: +15.4°C
Annual precipitation: 340 mm/yr
Environment
Permafrost: discontinuous and sporadic
Vegetation type: Forest tundra
History
The Igarka Geocryological Laboratory was founded in 1930 as a field station subordinate to the Northern Sea Route Committee and later to the Melnikov Permafrost Institute. Read more at: https://eu-interact.org/field-sites/igarka-geocryology-laboratory/
Current projects
Active layer monitoring at CALM grid (R40) since 2008, borehole temperature measurements, climatic parameters, permafrost processes and their effects on fluvial sediment flux and landform evolution, temperature measurements in the Igarka permafrost tunnel
Tiksi
Location
Located near the Polar Geospace Observatory 6 km southwest of Tiksi and 9 km from the Laptev Sea coast, northern Yakutia (71.58°N, 128.78°E, elevation 41 m)
Climate
January mean: –33.3°C
July mean: +7.0°C
Mean annual precipitation: 241 mm, most of which occurs from June through August
Environment
Geomorphological setting: lower part of the Suonannakh Creek valley
Permafrost: cold, continuous permafrost with a shallow, moist active-layer. Permafrost thickness estimated by extrapolation is 640 m.
Permafrost-related processes and features: mud circles, frost cracking, ice wedge polygons and thermokarst subsidence
Vegetation: lichen-sedge-moss tundra
History
The site was established in 1996 as part of the GAME Russian-Japanese project to study relationships between permafrost and tundra landscapes under current climatic change and anthropogenic disturbances. Geochemical monitoring of aerosols and gases in the near-surface atmosphere was conducted in cooperation with the Hokkaido University between 1993 and 1999.
Current Projects
Climate parameters (AWS); active layer monitoring (CALM ID: R8); temperature monitoring in two deep and three shallow boreholes; permafrost processes and landforms
Chabyda
Location
20 km southwest of Yakutsk within the Pre-Lena Sandstone physiographic province, central Yakutia (61.96°N, 129.42°E, avg elevation 220 m)
Environment
Landform: rolling plain
Vegetation: coniferous forest
Permafrost: continuous; cold and warm permafrost within the area
Eleven study plots are located in a sequence from low, wet ground to dry upland slope
History
Established in 1981 to conduct research on permafrost thermal regime, surface factors and climate
Current Projects
permafrost temperature monitoring (GTN-P boreholes: Chabada 5-81, 21 m deep in pine stand on upper slope and RU 26, 30 m deep in larch stand with birch understory in low, wet ground); measurements of climatic parameters (air temperature, wind speed, precipitation, evaporation, snow depth, and snow density) and ground hydrothermal parameters (snow and ground surface temperatures, heat flows, thermal properties of surface covers, and freeze-thaw depths)
Interannual variability of active-layer thickness in different terrain units, Chabyda.
Mean annual ground temperatures at 10 m depth in different terrain units, Chabyda.
Neleger
Location
Located on an erosional-aggradational plain between the Lena and Kenkeme Rivers, 35 km northwest of Yakutsk, central Yakutia (62º19′N, 129º30′E, avg. elevation 210 m)
Environment
Permafrost: continuous; ice-rich silts (Ice Complex/Yedoma)
Ecosystem: Larix cajanderi stands with a ground cover dominated by Vaccinium vitis‐idaea; grass-covered thermokarst basins (alases)
Types of disturbance: clear cutting, wildfire
History
Established in 1999 to study permafrost response to climate change and human impacts and to conduct research on international projects in collaboration with the Japan Science and Technology (JST) and the Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University
Current projects
CALM active layer measurements since 2008 (CALM ID: R43, method: 50 x 50 thaw tubes)
Joint project with the Department of Environmental Geochemical Cycle Research (JAMSTEC, Japan) “Observational Study of Permafrost, Vegetation, Energy and Water in Eastern Siberia Towards Elucidation of the Impact of Climate Change in the Geochemical Cycle”
Yukechi
Location
Lacustrine-alluvial plain (high terrace of the Lena River), 50 km southeast of Yakutsk (9 km northeast of the town of Maya) in central Yakutia (61°35ˊN, 130°40ˊE, elevation 200-220 m).
Environment
Permafrost: continuous in extent, with thick ice wedges from depths of 2-2.5 m; thermokarst features are abundant
Soil texture: silt
Ecosystem: larch forests and grass-covered alases
History
Research at the site has been conducted since 1992 to study the dynamics of forest and grassland landscapes underlain by thick ice-rich permafrost (Ice Complex/Yedoma).
Current projects
Thermokarst dynamics (alases and thaw lakes)
Joint project with the Department of Environmental Geochemical Cycle Research (JAMSTEC, Japan) “Observational Study of Permafrost, Vegetation, Energy and Water in Eastern Siberia Towards Elucidation of the Impact of Climate Change in the Geochemical Cycle”
People and Culture Project field trip, Yukechi site, 2015.
Drilling at Yukechi for the joint Russian-German project, 2015.
Syrdakh
Location
Marginal area between the Abalakh and Tyungyulyu high terraces of the middle Lena River (62°33′N, 130°52′E), central Yakutia
Environment
Thick, continuous permafrost rich in ice wedges with abundant alas basins and thaw lakes
History
Intensive research was conducted between 1969-1979 to study heat transfer in the ground–surface–atmosphere system. Alas deposits were also studied to determine past and present thermokarst evolution.
Current Projects
Joint project with UMR8148 GEOPS/CNRS laboratory “GEOSCIENCES PARIS SUD” (Orsay University, France) on “High Spatial and Temporal Resolution Study of the Permafrost Degradation and Carbon Release in Central Siberia”
Farmland degraded by thermokarst, Syrdakh.
Spasskaya Pad
Location
Spasskaya Pad Station of the Institute for Biological Problems of Cryolithozone, 20 km north of Yakutsk
(62°14′N, 129°37′E, avg. elevation 220 m)
Environment
Permafrost: continuous, thick (400 m), frozen sands with no ice wedges
Landform: Pleistocene terrace, middle Lena River (QIII-QIV)
Ecosystem: boreal light taiga with pine and birch stands and grass-covered alases
History
https://eu-interact.org/field-sites/spasskaya-pad-scientific-forest-station/
Current projects
Permafrost thermal monitoring in two 7-m boreholes since 1996 (GTN-P sites Spasskaya Pad 1 in larch stand and Spasskaya Pad 11 in pine stand)
Active layer monitoring (frostgages installed in different successional stages)
Permafrost changes and thermokarst development in response to surface disturbance (forest harvesting, wildfire and surface stripping)
Umaybyt
Location
near Pokrovsk, 80 km southwest of Yakutsk, central Yakutia (61.42°N, 128.85°E, elevation 160–180 m)
Environment
Landform: lacustrine-alluvial plain (Abalakh high terrace of the Lena River)
Permafrost: continuous, thick; frozen silts with ice wedges (Ice Complex/Yedoma)
Ecosystem: second-growth forests and treeless surfaces resulting from timber harvesting of various intensities
History
Established in 1980 to study permafrost and terrain recovery following anthropogenic disturbances
Current projects
permafrost thermal monitoring in 20 m borehole since 1994 (GTN-P ID: RU 08_0025)
permafrost changes and thermokarst development in response to surface disturbances and climatic change
Kerdyugen
Location
near Tabaga, 33 km southwest of Yakutsk
Environment
Landform: Magan terrace of the Lena River
Permafrost: thick ice-rich permafrost with ice wedges
History
Established in 1989 to study permafrost changes caused by anthropogenic activities (abandoned croplands)
Current projects
Active-layer monitoring, ground temperature measurements, permafrost degradational processes
