Methodological approaches in the investigation of the development of glaciation in Northern Eurasia

Abstract

Northern Eurasia is situated predominantly within temperate and polar latitudes and provides favourable situations for glaciation. This has been clear since Prince P.A. Kopotkin's work in Siberia and Western Russia. Markov et at. (1965) estimated the glaciated area of the USSR to be between 8,095,000 km2 and 6,500,00 krn, some 17-18% of global glaciation. At maximum development at least 33% of the country was glaciated . Geomorphologically, the Western and Central Soviet Union is dominated by the East-European and West-Siberian plains (Fig. 1) . Farther east lies the Central Siberian plateau , while the northeastern part of the USSR consists of extensive mountains. Topography determines two principal styles of glaciation: montane glaciation in the east and lowland glaciation in the west from the mountains of Scandinavia, the Urals , the Byrranga and Putoran mountains in the Taimyr peninsula and the Central Siberian plateau. Major contrasts exist between the eastern and western USSR. The east is influenced by the Asian and Siberian anticyclones which can lead to severe cooling of the land-surface and air. Some highland areas of the northeastern USSR have average January temperatures below -40°C and temperatures below freezing may last up to 10 months of the year. In Siberia the period lasts about nine months and near the Arctic ocean it increases again to 10 months. January temperatures in the Central Siberian plateau range from -30 to -36°C. In the northern half of the West Siberian lowland , i.e . along the margin of the stable cyclonic masses , January temperatures rise to -25°C.