Abstract
Analysis of climatic conditions for the period of instrumental measurement in Central Yakutia showed three periods with two different mean annual air temperature (MAAT) shifts. These periods were divided into 1930–1987 (base period A), 1988–2006 (period B) and 2007–2018 (period C) timelines. The MAAT during these three periods amounted −10.3, −8.6 and −7.4 °C, respectively. Measurement of active layer depth (ALD) of permafrost pale soil under the forest (natural) and arable land (anthropogenic) were carried out during 1990–2018 period. MAAT change for this period affected an early transition of negative temperatures to positive and a later establishment of negative temperatures. Additionally, a shortening of the winter season and an extension of the duration of days with positive temperatures was found. Since the permafrost has a significant impact on soil moisture and thermal regimes, the deepening of ALD plays a negative role for studied soils. An increase in the ALD can cause thawing of underground ice and lead to degradation of the ice-rich permafrost. This thaw process causes a change of the ecological balance and leads to the destruction of natural landscapes, sometimes with a complete or prolonged loss of their biological productivity. During this observation (1990–2018 period) the active layer of permafrost is characterized by high dynamics, depending on climatic parameters such as air temperature, as well as thickness and duration of snow cover. A significant increase in ALD of forest permafrost soils—by 80 cm and 65 cm—on arable land was measured during the observation period (28 years).
Highlights
Received: 9 November 2020 Accepted: 20 December 2020 Published: 22 December 2020Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.The highest rate of warming is observed in the northern latitudes of the Earth [1]
The aim of this work is to characterize the dynamics of soils active layer depth (ALD) under the natural and anthropogenic condition, during the long-term period depending on the dynamics of climatic factors
Over the past 88 years in Central Yakutia, there has been an increase in the mean annual air temperature (MAAT) by 2.9 ◦C (Figure 2)
Summary
Received: 9 November 2020 Accepted: 20 December 2020 Published: 22 December 2020Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.The highest rate of warming is observed in the northern latitudes of the Earth [1]. Received: 9 November 2020 Accepted: 20 December 2020 Published: 22 December 2020. Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Central Yakutia is located in this risky zone and characterized by the presence of underground ice wedges—an ice complex. On the Central Yakutia lowland, about 50% of ice wedges remain in upper permafrost and can thaw [3]. On the areas with a shallow ice complex, an increase in active layer depth (ALD) leads to the thawing of ice and further degradation of landscapes surface. This phenomenon plays a negative role in human life and agriculture. Over the last decades, the destruction of constructions, the abandonment of arable land and other negative consequences of an increase in ALD have already been observed in this territory
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