Permafrost

a scale of 1:1500000. This map was compiled by the results of Soviet – Mongolian
geocryological expedition in 1967 – 1971. After this period our senior researchers, doctor
D.Tumurbaatar, N.Sharkhuu, compiled the series of permafrost distribution map at a different
scale. On these maps, permafrost is classified into seven categories: Continuous, discontinuous,
widespread island, rear island, sporadic, without permafrost and seasonal.
At the present, we are carrying out the permafrost investigation in the several areas. For
example, the permafrost area covers about 22.4 percent of total territory of Ulaanbaatar area.
Permafrost phenomena such as frost crack, frost heaving, stone polygons, kurum,
thermokarst, solifluction, icing area developed everywhere in permafrost zone of Mongolia.
Mongolia is situated in the southern boundary of Eurasian permafrost region in which
permafrost distribution is mosaic-lake, being strongly affected not only by landscape conditions
but also by global climate.
Permafrost in Mongolia is degrading at various, but considerable rates depending on the
local natural conditions. Permafrost, especially sporadic and isolated, is very sensitive to
climate change and human actives.
In future, we need to complete the complex observation of permafrost condition in same
selected areas. For this complex observation, we invite the scientists of this field to
co-operation.
Key words: permafrost, geocryology, phenomena, mapping, GIS,
164
Long-term permafrost observatory on the block slope in the Northern
Zabaykaliye
Dmitri Sergueev
(Institute of Environmental Geoscience, Russian Academy of Science, Ulansky, 13, build. 2, P.O.Box 145,
101000, Moscow, Russia) E-mail: sergueevdo@mail.ru
Abstract: Practically all sectors of Arctic are bordered by the mountain systems. Mountainous
regions are very complex in terms of permafrost conditions due to high variability of landscapes.
We still don’t have enough information and scientific descriptions of the climate reactions on
the mountain permafrost dynamics. We have to make clear the principal factors that cause the
mean annual permafrost temperatures changes at diverse altitude intervals in mountains.
The Northern Zabaykalye region (South-Eastern Siberia, Russia) is very known by
geologists and geographers. In 60-th–80-th of XX century the industrial development of this
region was intensified. There initiated the regular permafrost investigation as interdisciplinary
cooperation of different academic, educational and industrial science organizations
(Chitageologia, ZabTISIZ, Permafrost Institute SB AS USSR, Moscow State University, Chita
Institute of Natural Resources etc.). Now the IEG RAS (Moscow) with PI SB RAS and INREC
SB RAS (Chita) recommence the long-term permafrost observation.
In 1986-1988 author participated in the investigation when the special isolated pit-camera
(mine) inside the kurum (block slope) was constructed. That was destined for detailed
observation of thermal and hydrologic condition in the active layer on the block slope (1170 m