Permafrost

disturbance: conflicting, critical and crisis-level ecological conditions in the North Taiga
subzone;
2) cryoturbated profile-deformed permafrost soils with modified structures and properties,
involutions and irregular horizons. They result from three initial stages of thermokarst and
small polygon development in the Middle Taiga subzone (rudimentary ‘bylar’ and subsidence
trough, mature ‘bylar’, and ‘eeyo’ stages);
3) shallow cryoturbated profile-destructed permafrost soils where approximately one-half of
the upper soil profile (A and B) is fully or partially destructed or thermally eroded on gently
sloping areas (2-4о) of the agricultural landscapes over short periods of time (1-3 wet summers
or repeated prolonged rain events). They lead to critical and crisis-level ecological conditions at
a local level;
4) cryoturbated permafrost soils showing cryogenic destruction of the lower genetic horizons
of the soil profile above the permafrost table and disturbances in the middle part of the active
layer. They are estimated to be the sources of ecological stress;
5) cryogenic disruptions of the active layer with complete destruction of the soil profile (А, В
and ВС horizons) and the underlying active layer which are the net result of frost action.
Associated with these features is the disastrous ecological condition of agricultural landscapes.
It has been found that under global climate change the permafrost soils are transformed
into cryoturbated profile-deformed and cryoturbated profile-destructed soils (cryozems) over a
relatively short period of time (7-10 years). These soils occur in the areas of intensive
cryogenesis, especially in Central and Subarctic Yakutia. Deep cryoturbation of the active layer
and rapid thawing of the ice-rich substrate, especially that containing ice wedges, cause
numerous adverse processes and phenomena in hydrothermal, pedological and ecological
aspects. The results of investigations on soil cryoturbation will be useful in developing
scientific and methodological basis for classification and diagnostics of permafrost soils, in
developing indicators (criteria) for state and stability assessment of natural and agricultural
landscapes, and in addressing land resource management problems.
Key words: Ice-rich permafrost, cryoturbation, permafrost-affected soils, permafrost-landscape
ecology
Mapping and monitoring strategies for detecting air circulation
Processes in blocky terrain (Swiss Alps)
Reynald DELALOYE 1 , Christophe LAMBIEL 2 , Jonathan DORTHE 1 , Sébastien MORARD 1
(1.Dept. of Geosciences, Geography, Univ. of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland;
2. Institute of Geography, Univ. of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
Email: Reynald.Delaloye@unifr.ch)
Abstract: The so-called “chimney effect” or “wind-tube effect” is a seasonally reversible
mechanism of air circulation which controls for instance the thermal regime of dynamic ice
caves. But the process is also known to occur throughout talus slopes and even throughout relict
or inactive rock glaciers.
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