10.24411/1728-323X-2018-16107

Physical geography and biogeography, soil geography and landscape geochemistry

LONG-TERM TEMPERATURE CHANGE OF THE PERMAFROST IN THE AREAS OF CUTTINGS OF THE LARCH TAIGA IN CENTRAL YAKUTIA

1. P. Ya. Konstantinov, Ph. D. (Geography), Senior Researcher, Melnikov Permafrost Institute, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (MPI SB RAS), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Yakutsk, Russia,
2. A. N. Fedorov, Ph. D. (Geography), Head of the Laboratory, Melnikov Permafrost Institute, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (MPI SB RAS), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Yakutsk, Russia,

The data of 35-year monitoring of permafrost temperature at the sites for felling of larch taiga within the Umabyt test site (Central Yakutia) are presented. The region under consideration is one of the most developed in comparison with the rest of Yakutia. Natural forests here are largely subjected to anthropogenic pressure as a result of logging. The study of the effect of felling of larch taiga on perennial changes in permafrost temperature is the main objective of the research. At present, this task is of particular relevance, as in the conditions of modern climate warming there is a tendency towards a decrease in permafrost stability in Central Yakutia. The knowledge of the long-term dynamics of the thermal conditions of permafrost in disturbed landscapes is necessary in order to rational use of the natural environment, which can minimize the risks of permafrost degradation and enhance unwanted cryogenic processes. These works have been going on for more than 35 years and by now quite representative materials have been accumulated.

The studies have revealed that the restoration of the temperature regime of the permafrost in forests derived from gradual and continuous cutting, mainly occurs in 20—25 years after the end of cutting work. The process of restoring forest vegetation in the places of the former clearings can reduce the amplitude of the inter-annual fluctuations in the temperature of the upper permafrost strata caused by the impact of current climate change.

successions, permafrost, monitoring, temperature, depth of seasonal thaw.

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