Sayan Mountains Research Articles

Statistics of precipitable water vapour, optical thickness and cloud cover within the Northern part of Eurasia

One of the most important tasks in astroclimatic studies of possible locations for the Eurasian Submillimeter Telescopes is estimating statistics of precipitable water vapour, optical thickness and cloud cover. In this paper, the statistics of precipitable water vapour and total cloud cover within Northern part of Eurasia are studied using ERA-5 reanalysis. Optical thickness statistics at a wavelength of 3 mm were obtained using the Liebe model from the ERA-5 reanalysis for the region where the BTA is located. The most favorable astroclimatic zones of Eurasia include Tibet and the Eastern Pamirs, certain regions of the Sayan Mountains, Altai and Mts within Dagestan. Also we verified the ERA-5 reanalysis data using radiosonde data, GNSS measurement data and radiometric measurements for 2021.

Two cases of introducing Lipoptena fortisetosa Maa (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) into Europe through different deer species

ABSTRACT The study of specimens of Lipoptena fortisetosa Maa, 1965 from various populations of its modern range revealed the presence of two forms that differ morphologically and genetically. Form A corresponds to the original description; form B is distinguished by the presence of a prescutellar suture and 4–5 acrostichal, 4–6 postalar setae. We hypothesise that initially these forms were associated with different hosts and were separated geographically. The L. fortisetosa species was introduced to Europe at least twice from different places and with different hosts. Later, both forms were able to move to other hosts. Now form A lives in Western Europe, Kazakhstan, and the south of the Russian Far East, and form B lives in Eastern Europe, the Sayan Mountains and the Baikal region.

Mineralogical Indicators of the Holocene Climate in Sediments of the High-Mountain Lake Sagan-Nur (East Sayan Mountains)

Mineralogical Indicators of the Holocene Climate in Sediments of the High-Mountain Lake Sagan-Nur (East Sayan Mountains)

EXPERIENCES OF EXTREME FROST IN WINTER ADVENTURE TOURISM

There has been extensive scholarly investigation of adventure tourism (demanding physical activities during travel, a natural environment, and risk, danger, and uncertainty,) though less attention given to the experience of snowshoeing, camping and hard adventure tourism in winter. This qualitative study provides a conceptualization of winter adventure tourism, and visual methodology (drawings by adult participants) based on the principle of “metaphorical truthfulness”. An interpretation is offered of 8 drawings from 19 pairs of pictures made by participants at the beginning and end of a winter expedition to the Altai and Sayan mountains in Siberia. The bonfire phenomenon is the central point in the pictures and may be interpreted not only for its pragmatic use as a source of warmth and light, but as the centre of the world, a symbolic and societal value of fire, and a cosmogonic element in the mythopoetic experiences of a hard winter adventure tourists. Pursuit of a deeper understanding of the spirituality of the tourist experience without religious faith (contact with a wild natural environment, frost, and hard physical activities) allows us to characterize this mode as an implicit religion, as a transformative experience changing horizons of the lives of tourists.

ИЗМЕНЕНИЯ ГИДРОТЕРМИЧЕСКИХ УСЛОВИЙ НА ЮГЕ СИБИРИ В 1950-2020 ГГ. И ИХ СВЯЗЬ С КРУПНОМАСШТАБНЫМИ ЦИРКУЛЯЦИОННЫМИ ПРОЦЕССАМИ

The paper presents the dynamics of the hydrothermal coefficients characterizing agroclimatic resources on the territory of Siberia within the coordinates of 50°-65° N, 60°-120° E during modern climate change. The intensity, frequency, and duration of adverse weather phenomena for agriculture (the atmospheric droughts and moisture excess conditions) are analyzed. The Ped’ drought index ( S ) and the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) calculated from the data of 134 weather stations and the ERA5 reanalysis are used as an indicator. In Eastern Siberia and in the west of the analyzed territory, there is an increase in aridity (a trend is 0.2-0.5 per decade). Northern regions of Kazakhstan, the Sayan Mountains, and the West Siberian Plain were characterized by a relative stability of hydrothermal conditions in 1950-2020 (statistically significant changes are not revealed). A direct linear dependence of hydrothermal conditions on large-scale circulation processes have been not detected for most cases. The greatest number of statistically significant correlation coefficients has been obtained for the drought index S and the SCAND (Scandinavia teleconnection pattern) index.

Modeling of the Statistical Distribution of Tracheids in Conifer Rings: Finding Universal Criterion for Earlywood-Latewood Distinction.

The quantitative description of growth rings is yet incomplete, including the functional division into earlywood and latewood. Methods developed to date, such as the Mork criterion for conifers, can be biased and arbitrary depending on species and growth conditions. We proposed the use of modeling of the statistical distribution of tracheids to determine a universal criterion applicable to all conifer species. Thisstudy was based on 50-year anatomical measurements of Pinus sylvestris L., Pinus sibirica Du Tour, and Picea obovata Ledeb. near the upper tree line in the Western Sayan Mountains (South Siberia). Statistical distributions of the cell wall thickness (CWT)-to-radial-diameter (D) ratio and its slope were investigated for raw and standardized data (divided by the mean). The bimodal distribution of the slope for standardized CWT and D was modeled with beta distributions for earlywood and latewood tracheids and a generalized normal distribution for transition wood to account for the gradual shift in cell traits. The modelcan describe with high accuracy the growth ring structure for species characterized by various proportions of latewood, histometric traits, and gradual or abrupt transition. The proportion of two (or three, including transition wood) zones in the modeled distribution is proposed as a desired criterion.

The mayflies (Ephemeroptera) of the Us River basin in the Western Sayan mountains, Russia

The mayflies (Ephemeroptera) of the Us River basin in the Western Sayan mountains, Russia

Geochemical Records of the Late Glacial and Holocene Paleoenvironmental Changes from the Lake Kaskadnoe-1 Sediments (East Sayan Mountains, South Siberia)

Long-term and continuous lake sedimentary records offer enormous potential for interpreting paleoenvironmental histories and for understanding how terrestrial environments might respond to current global warming conditions. However, sedimentary records that contain the Late Glacial and Holocene epochs are scarce in deep continental high-mountain regions. A 150 cm sediment core was obtained from Lake Kaskadnoe-1 in the East Sayan Mountains (South Siberia, Russia, 2080 m above sea level), containing a unique record of the last 13,200 calibrated years (cal yr). Chronological control was obtained by AMS 14C dating. Here, we show the first detailed X-ray fluorescence (XRF) geochemical record, with the goal of broadening our knowledge of the paleoenvironmental history of the East Sayan Mountains in the past. The determination of major compounds and trace elements (Sr, Zr) was performed from each centimeter of the Lake Kaskadnoe-1 sediment core. The inorganic geochemistry indicates significant variations in elemental composition between two major lithological units of the sediment core: the Late Glacial dense grey silty clay (150–144 cm), and the upper interval (0–143 cm) mostly consisted of dark biogenic-terrigenous silt, accumulated during the Holocene. The Late Glacial sediments accumulated 13,200–12,800 cal yr BP are characterized by high values of CIA, Mg/Al, K/Al, and Mn/Fe, and are depleted in Si/Al, Fe/Al, and Ca/Al. During the Younger Dryas cold episode, LOI enrichment was probably caused by the presence of less oxic conditions, as seen in lower Mn/Fe values, due to a longer period of lake ice-cover. The Early Holocene (12,000–7500 cal yr BP) is associated with a decreasing trend of mineral matter with fluvial transport to Lake Kaskadnoe-1 (low K/Al, Mg/Al) and stronger chemical weathering in the lake basin. The increase in Ti/Al, K/Al and CIA values over the last 7500 years suggests an increase in the terrigenous input into the lake. Low LOI values can be possibly explained by the presence of less dense vegetation cover in the basin. In summary, our data indicate that the geochemical indices and selected elemental ratios mirror the sedimentation conditions that were triggered by environmental and climate changes during the Late Glacial and Holocene.

Radial Growth Response of Siberian Pines to Climate Warming in the Sayan Mountains, Southern Siberia, Russian Federation

Climate warming and subsequent drought are predicted to alter local forest production and carbon budgets, the sensitivity of which may be site- and species-specific. Although a warmer and drier climate often constrains tree growth, whether trees grown in cool, wet regions across the Siberian forest can in turn be promoted remains unknown. Here, we aimed to investigate the historical growth tendency of Siberian forests in the Sayan Mountain areas and to explore how climate interacts to regulate their growth. We used ring-width data from Siberian pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour) sampled from three sites in this area to establish a regional chronology and calculate percentage growth change (%GC) over the past 250 years. Bootstrapped correlation analysis between the regional ring-width chronology and climatic factors indicates the mean air temperature, though not precipitation, is more often positively linked to the radial growth of Siberian pines. The %GC series shows that, from 1966 to 2006, the rising temperatures in May resulted in a significant increase in the radial-growth rate of Siberian pines (r = 0.47, p < 0.05). Our study suggests that the positive growth rate anomaly is more likely to occur as temperatures rise in Southern Siberia.

Statistics of precipitable water vapour above the sites of the 6-m Big Telescope Alt-azimuthal and new 3-m Large Solar Telescope using ERA5 data

ABSTRACTAtmospheric conditions have a major impact on the quality of ground-based astronomy observations. Among atmospheric molecular gases, water vapour presents a significant challenge in ground-based astronomical observations in spectral bands ranging from radio to infrared. The impact of water vapour on astronomical observations is expressed in terms of precipitable water vapour (PWV). Water vapour is a greenhouse gas on Earth that plays an important role in various atmospheric processes, including global climate change. In this work, we analyse the long-term (1975–2021) statistics of PWV above two mid-latitude sites: the 6-m Big Telescope Alt-azimuthal in the Caucasus Mountains and the new 3-m Large Solar Telescope in the Sayan Mountains. Both astronomical sites were established over 45 years ago and are located at an altitude of 2000 m above sea level. We use ERA5 – a new-generation European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) retrieved atmospheric reanalysis product. First, we evaluate the reliability of the PWV variable provided in the ERA5 data using global navigation satellite system (GNSS) measurement data. We present the analysis of PWV statistics, including seasonal behaviour above the sites in the infrared astronomical observations context. Then we provide long-term changes of PWV for the period 1975–2021 and examine the data set for the statistical significance of trends. Finally we discuss PWV correlation with other atmospheric parameters: surface temperature and total cloud cover in the regions of both sites.

Plans for the Construction of Russian Forts in the Western Sayan Mountains and the Second Krasnoyarsk “Rebellion” (“Shatost”) (1718–1720)

The history of the construction of Russian fortresses (ostrog) in Siberia offers many examples, of when due to various circumstances their rapid and full-fledged building, as well as effective use failed. This is also relevant for the time of construction of new fortification facilities in the basin of the Middle and Upper Yenisei during the exploration of these territories. As a result of the conflict (“rebellion”, “shatost”) between the local administration of the Krasnoyarsk district and the garrison the latter delayed or even refused to build fortresses. The article is aimed to identify and chara terize the facts related to these phenomena. It considers the case, when, because of the actions and decisions of the all-Siberian and local administrations in a conflict with the garrison and the population of the Krasnoyarsk ostrog and the district in 1718–1720, the construction of the fort beyond the Sayan (modern Tuva), on the territory that was in the actual possessions of the Mongol khans, who were subjects of the Qing empire, was terminated. These events, rarely being in the focus of research, were called the second Krasnoyarsk “rebellion”. The article identifies and characterizes the circumstances related to it, assess their influence on decisions toward the construction of new forts, analyzes the activities of the central and local administrations to overcome such crisis situations, highlights the consequences of these actions, etc. It concludes by discussing some of the quality and features of the defense policy, regarding defense infrastructure in particular, in Siberia at the beginning of the 18th century.

Трансформация геосистем Байкальской природной территории

The article presents the main provisions of the concept of transformation of geosystems of geodynamically active territories. The object of the study is the geosystems of the Baikal natural territory. The interaction of the Siberian Platform, the East Sayan Mountain region, the Baikal rift zone, the Angara-Vitim batholith influenced the formation of various conditions for the transformation of geosystems. Modern ideas about the influence of endogenous processes on the transformation of the lithosphere and climate are considered. The transformation of geosystems is understood as the restructuring of their structure due to transformative dynamics and evolution, which develop under the influence of the modification of material-energy flows and information connections. Examples of transformation of geosystems of the Baikal natural territory under the influence of endogenous heat and mantle matter, changes in information connections of components of geosystems and their subordination to geosystems of physical and geographical areas are given.

Исследование ледников Мунку-Сардык С.П. Перетолчиным, начатое в начале XX века, и его современное продолжение

The article gives a comparative analysis of the achievements of natural-scientific studies of glaciers in the area of Munku-Sardyk (Eastern Sayan Mountains) in the early XX century of the famous Ir-Kutsk geologist, geographer and climatologist Sergey Pavlovich Peretolchin (1863-1914) in comparison with modern geographical studies of the authors of the article in the early XXI century.

История геологического изучения Ботогольского графитового месторождения

The Botogol graphite deposit, located in the Eastern Sayan Mountains, is of interest not only because of its rich ores, but also because of the rich history of its study. Since the discovery of graphite manifestations on the Botogol mountain in the first half of the 19th century, the study of its structure and genesis has been underway. It took more than a century of prospecting and exploration and exploitation works to get an idea of the geology of this deposit. The history of the study of this unique deposit is considered in the article.

The First Occurrence of Platinum Group Minerals in Ultramafic Rocks of the Kyzyr–Burlyuk Massif (Western Sayan Mountains, Russia)

The First Occurrence of Platinum Group Minerals in Ultramafic Rocks of the Kyzyr–Burlyuk Massif (Western Sayan Mountains, Russia)

Люди и вулканы Окинского плоскогорья в древности: влияние вулканической деятельности на выбор мест организации поселений

The Oka Plateau is situated in the Sayan Mountain System on the West of the Buriatia Republic. In the Late Pleistocene, this territory was influenced by local glaciers which were developed along the rivers’ valleys. . Glaciers played an important role in the strategy of human development of the territory of the Oka Plateau, for long periods of time making inaccessible the numerous valleys of the tributaries of the Oka River, the main water artery of the Oka Plateau. Starting from the end of the Pleistocene and throughout most of the Holocene, volcanic activity intensified in the upper reaches of the Zhobolok (a tributary of the Oka). The poured lava flows advanced into the Oka valley and blocked the river, creating a natural dam. As a result, a vast dammed paleolake was formed above the dam. After the natural situation stabilized, the shores of the paleolake were actively developed during the Holocene optimum. It was the settlement of the people whose material culture finds many analogies among the archaeological materials of the Angara region. In 2021, a series of Neolithic sites were discovered in the area of Zun Nomto-Gol. During the study of these sites, the frequency and sequence of development of the shores of the ancient lake were established. The fact of a gradual decrease in the level of the dammed lake at an early stage of its existence (the Neolithic era according to archaeological periodization) has also been established. Later, the water level in the lake decreased dramatically and many ancient sites turned out to be high above the water, which led to the cessation of the development of previously inhabited areas.

Spatial-Coherent Dynamics and Climatic Signals in the Radial Growth of Siberian Stone Pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour) in Subalpine Stands along the Western Sayan Mountains

Siberian stone pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour) is one of the keystone conifers in Siberian taiga, but its radial growth is complacent and thus rarely investigated. We studied its growth in subalpine stands near the upper timberline along the Western Sayan Mountains, Southern Siberia, because climatic responses of trees growing on the boundaries of species distribution help us better understand their performance and prospects under climate change. We performed dendroclimatic analysis for six tree-ring width chronologies with significant between-site correlations at distances up to 270 km (r = 0.57–0.84, p < 0.05). We used ERA-20C (European Reanalysis of the Twentieth Century) daily climatic series to reveal weak but spatially coherent responses of tree growth to temperature and precipitation. Temperature stably stimulated growth during the period from the previous July–August to current August, except for an adverse effect in April. Precipitation suppressed growth during periods from the previous July–September to December (with reaction gradually strengthening) and from the current April to August (weakening), while the snowfall impact in January–March was neutral or positive. Weather extremes probably caused formation of wide tree rings in 1968 and 2002, but narrow rings in 1938, 1947, 1967, 1988, and 1997. A subtle increase in the climatic sensitivity of mature trees was observed for all significant seasonal climatic variables except for the temperature in the previous October–January. The current winter warming trend is supposedly advantageous for young pine trees based on their climatic response and observed elevational advance.

ISOTOPE COMPOSITION OF CARBON AND OXYGEN IN CALCITES OF ALKALINE ULTRAMAPHIC DYKES WITHIN THE URIK-IYA GRABEN

The isotope composition of carbon and oxygen was studied in calcite of dykes and veins of ultramafic lamprophyres, kimberlite, alkaline mica picrites from the Yarma above-intrusion zone, and pyroxene-free picrites intruding the rocks of the Bolshetagninsky carbonatite massif within the Urik-Iya graben hosted by the East Sayan Mountains. The data on δ13C (from −6.6 to −3.9 ‰ relative to VPDB) disclose the ideas on the mantle origin of the carbonate substance of dykes. High values of δ18O (from +13.9 to +11.8 ‰ relative to VSMOW) suggest the impact of deuteric fluids, i.e. magmatic fluids separated from melts, at later stage of formation of the calcite-bearing alkaline ultramafic rocks.

SOURCES AND MECHANISMS OF FORMATION OF ALKALINE RARE-METAL GRANITES AT THE ZASHIKHINSKY MASSIF BASED ON GEOCHEMICAL AND Nd ISOTOPE DATA

The intraplate alkaline-granite magmatism essentially contributes to formation of rare-metal strategic raw materials. In the Major Sayan Fault of the East Sayan Mountains, the rocks of the Zashikhinsky (Pz3) massif were studied through the isotope-geochemical analysis to identify probable sources of alkaline-granite magma and mechanisms of their evolution resulting in ore accumulations, up to the formation of Nb-Ta deposits. The Nd isotopic characteristics of its alkaline granites were obtained for the first time. Together with the results of mineralogical and geochemical studies, they were applied for modeling its formation, in which crystallization differentiation of alkaline granite melts proceeds simultaneously with their assimilation of the enclosing granite-metamorphic formations.

A new Kalidium species (Amaranthaceae s. l.) from northern Central Asia

Kalidium juniperinum Sukhor. et Lomon. is described as a species new to science. It is similar to K. foliatum in having a short leaf blade but differs by the presence of numerous slender, prostrate, or ascending stems forming mats vs. the stout main upright stem; acuminate bracts slightly exceeding the flower cyme vs. obtuse bracts equal to the flower cyme; the exserted pericarp looking like a bulge on the one-seeded diaspore vs. not or slightly elevated top of the diaspore; shorter anthers; the geographic range in the highlands and mountainous steppe zone vs. Eurasian lowland (semi-)desert regions. K. juniperinum is recorded in Russia (West Siberia and Sayan Mountains), Eastern and Northern Kazakhstan, the Mongolian Altai, and NW China. The names K. foliatum α [var.] glomeratum Fenzl and Kalidium foliatum β [var.] brevifolium Fenzl are lectotypified and synonymized with K. juniperinum.