Abstract: This paper presents the results of field studies conducted at the MSU meteorological site for the winter period of 2022/2023. The purpose of the observations was to study the development of the snow column and its spatial variability in one winter season. Field research consisted of analyzing stratigraphic layers of snow and measuring their density. The data obtained made it possible to characterize and evaluate changes in snow layers, structure, and density in spatiotemporal terms. The results of the work are displayed on the graphs of the spatial and temporal variability of the snow cover for 2022/2023. The evolution of the snow column over the winter period is analyzed. The analysis of observations reflects a high spatial and temporal variability of snow cover in winter, which allows not only to evaluate and compare the data obtained with past studies but also to supplement and improve the already available information on the heterogeneity of snow cover.

Keywords: heterogeneity of snow cover, research, winter period, snow layer, winter season, weather site, MSU, snow thickness, spatio-temporal heterogeneities, snow cover

Abstract: The historical analysis of the studies carried out during the 1950s-1980s by the staff of the Yakutsk Permafrost Research Station of the Obruchev Permafrost Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences and since 1962 – organized on its basis by the Permafrost Institute of the Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences and aimed at studying the coastal-shelf zone of the Laptev Sea and the East Siberian Sea. The sources for the preparation of the article were the archival materials identified by the author from the funds of the Russian State Archive of Economics and the Archive of the Melnikov Permafrost Institute of SB RAS, as well as scientific literature data. The work carried out made it possible to show the significant activity of researchers in the study of subbottom permafrost. Its drivers were both purely cognitive interest and the needs of the industrial development of high latitudes. In the course of the surveys carried out, data were obtained characterizing the prevalence and thickness of subpermafrost, its temperature regime, composition and other properties.

Keywords: subbottom permafrost, geocryology, the USSR Academy of Sciences, scientific research, history of science, shelf of the Arctic seas, East Siberian Sea, Laptev Sea, Yakutia, Arctic

Abstract: The subject of the study of the proposed article is the gas component of the cryolithozone. If the solid and liquid phases of frozen rocks have been studied sufficiently deeply and systematically, then the gas component has been studied weakly and fragmentally. The object of the study is gas-saturated frozen soils, their spatial distribution and properties. Studies of recent decades have shown that the gas component plays a significant role in the structure and properties of frozen rocks. The author examines in detail such aspects of the topic as the effect of gas on the physical and mechanical properties of both thawed and frozen soils. Special attention is paid to the overlap of capillaries in the soil with gas, an increase in pore pressure, a weakening of soil consolidation and connections between soil particles. This, in turn, is expressed in a decrease in strength and density while increasing compressibility and porosity.      The novelty of the study lies in the fact that for the first time a comparative analysis of data on the content of the gas component of the pressure in it and the processes occurring in frozen rocks was carried out. A special contribution of the author to the study of the topic is that the influence of free gas on their physical and mechanical properties is shown. The relevance of the topic under consideration is due to the need to study the patterns of deformation of frozen rocks depending on the degree of gas saturation. The article analyzes the state of the regulatory framework that takes into account the influence of gases on strength and deformative properties. Their almost complete absence was recorded. The importance of taking into account the possible increased pressure in gas-saturated frozen rocks in the development of research methods and regulatory documents for their use in engineering-geological and design work is shown. The materials considered indicate that gas-saturated frozen soils are a significant and important part of the cryolithozone and their study should be carried out within the framework of an independent section of geocryology.

Keywords: gas hydrate decomposition, gas saturated soils, pneumatic rupture, gas hydrates, pressure filtration of gas, breaking strain, plastic deformation, gas filtration, permafrost, fracturing

Abstract: The subject of the study is the soil-geochemical features of cryogenic mid-taiga landscapes of the Vilyuy River valley in its middle course, located near Mahatta and the village of Kysyl-Syr of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Morphological descriptions of soil profiles were compiled. Chemical and analytical laboratory work was carried out in order to establish the values of the physico-chemical parameters of soil horizons - pH, the content of easily soluble salts, the content of organic carbon, granulometric composition, fractional composition of iron. The main aspect of the soil-geochemical properties of the landscapes of the middle Vilyui River is the gross chemical composition of cryogenic soils. The gross contents of chemical elements were determined by X–ray fluorescence using portable X-ray diffraction, after which the geochemical coefficients of radial (profile) and lateral (catenary) differentiation of concentrations of chemical elements R and were calculated. In automorphic soils, most of the chemical elements are removed from their surface organic horizons, and in mineral ones they are concentrated. Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Zn and Zr differ by the highest values of the coefficients R (R reaches 20). The radial differentiation is significantly influenced by acidity, organic carbon content and other soil properties, for example, the increased content of Si, Ca, V and Zn (R up to 1,3–3,7) relative to the horizon of soil parent rocks which is associated with the content of Sorghum. In terms of lateral differentiation, most of the studied elements are characterized by accumulation in the upper part of the soil-geochemical catena. The catenae Ca, Mn, Fe, Zn and Y are most widely distributed in soils (LCa = 0.3–1.8; LMn = 0.1–2.0; LFe = 0.6–2.1; LZn = 0.9–2.9 and LY = 0.3–1.4).

Keywords: Vilyui River, Central Yakutia, middle taiga, lateral differentiation, radial differentiation, concentrations of microelements, concentrations of macroelements, soil-geochemical catena, permafrost, cryogenic soils

Abstract: The subject of the study was the soil and geochemical features of southern tundra cryogenic landscapes on the Khanovei educational and scientific field site located nearby the eponymous settlement in the Vorkuta district, Komi Republic. Morphology of soil profiles were described according to the modern Russian soil classification system. Chemical analytical sample treatment was done to evaluate such physical and chemical parameters of soil horizons as the pH rate, water-soluble salts content, organic carbon content, soil texture, iron fractional composition. The main point among soil and geochemical features of the Khanovei field site was gross chemical composition of cryogenic soils. Gross concentrations of chemicals were measured with the X-ray fluorescence method by portable X-ray Fluorescence Analyzer and then geochemical ratios of radial (profile) and lateral (catenar) differentiation of chemical elements – R and L. Largest R ratio meanings in soil profiles were in gleyic horizons including above-permafrost. Peat horizons without traces of soil mineral fraction were depleted with the most of elements (R = 0,1–0,3) and mineral horizons of soils were differed by increased RFe, RMn etc. The lower part of the catena with soils of mostly sandy texture was depleted by the main part of elements (Ti, Zn, Zr etc.) and predominantly loamy-textured soils in the upper part accumulate these elements and form increased L ratio meanings.

Keywords: Khanovei scientific and educational field site, Vorkuta area, tundra soils, Bolshezemelskaya tundra, radial differentiation, lateral differentiation, macro- and microelements, soil-geochemical catena, cryogenic soils, Republic of Komi