Sergey N. Kirpotin Sergey N. Kirpotin NATURAL DYNAMICS OF SUB- NATURAL DYNAMICS OF SUB -ARCTIC LANDSCAPES IN THE ARCTIC LANDSCAPES IN THE WEST SIBERIAN PLAIN AS INDICATOR OF GLOBAL CHANGES OF CLIMATE WEST SIBERIAN PLAIN AS INDICATOR OF GLOBAL CHANGES OF CLIMATE
Western Siberia is a unique bog region in the World. About 104 Mha Mha of of Western Siberia is a unique bog region in the World. About 104 Russian peatlands peatlands are located in Western Siberia, which consists almost are located in Western Siberia, which consists almost Russian completely of pristine peatland completely of pristine peatland ecosystems ecosystems (photographer S. Kirpotin) (photographer S. Kirpotin). .
The biggest at the World – The biggest at the World – Great Great Vasiugan Vasiugan Mire Mire (cosmic view of Western (cosmic view of Western part) (from Carbon Storage … part) (from Carbon Storage …, 2001) , 2001)
Siberian peatlands peatlands have been a major sink of atmospheric carbon since have been a major sink of atmospheric carbon since Siberian the last deglaciation deglaciation, , but their precise role in the global carbon balance has but their precise role in the global carbon balance has the last not yet been quantified not yet been quantified (photographer S. Kirpotin Kirpotin) ) (photographer S.
Yefremov and and Yefremova Yefremova Yefremov l l (2001) estimated that in (2001) estimated that in total 51.7 Pg carbon is total 51.7 Pg carbon is stored in all Western stored in all Western Siberian peat. Smith et al. Siberian peat. Smith et al. (2004) found a total of (2004) found a total of 70.2 Pg carbon (=70.2 70.2 Pg carbon (=70.2 billion tonnes tonnes) which is 7 ) which is 7 billion to 26% of global to 26% of global terrestrial carbon. terrestrial carbon.
Global warming is a major environmental issue and is expected to be be Global warming is a major environmental issue and is expected to greatest at high latitudes. Moreover, arctic and sub- -arctic landscapes are arctic landscapes are greatest at high latitudes. Moreover, arctic and sub particularly sensitive to temperature change because of the thawing of the ing of the particularly sensitive to temperature change because of the thaw permafrost permafrost (photographer S. Kirpotin). (photographer S. Kirpotin).
The process of permafrost melting (thermokarst The process of permafrost melting ( thermokarst) of ) of palsa palsa bogs at bogs at ) the North of Western Siberia (photographer S. Kirpotin, 1999 ) the North of Western Siberia (photographer S. Kirpotin, 1999
Some boreal species of animals (e.g. Badgers) and plants (e.g. Siberian iberian Some boreal species of animals (e.g. Badgers) and plants (e.g. S pine) are now spreading to the North pine) are now spreading to the North Badger on the left Badger on the left l l Siberian pines on the right Siberian pines on the right l l
The biggest in Siberia Samatlor Samatlor oil deposit (cosmic and aerial oil deposit (cosmic and aerial The biggest in Siberia views) views)
Vast areas of palsa palsa bogs with great number of lakes on watershed surface bogs with great number of lakes on watershed surface Vast areas of in northern taiga sub- -zone (photographer S. Kirpotin, 1999) zone (photographer S. Kirpotin, 1999) in northern taiga sub
Scheme of West- -Siberian plain Siberian plain Scheme of West
The South part of the West Siberian Plain is a typical Siberian taiga with taiga with The South part of the West Siberian Plain is a typical Siberian different types of bogs different types of bogs Siberian taiga on the Siberian taiga on the l l left left ridge- -hollow mire on hollow mire on ridge l l the right the right
Northern- -taiga and forest taiga and forest- -tundra from the helicopter (photographer tundra from the helicopter (photographer Northern S. Kirpotin, 1999) S. Kirpotin, 1999)
Colonisation of bogs by trees (photographer S. Kirpotin, 1999) Colonisation of bogs by trees (photographer S. Kirpotin, 1999)
The first stage of permafrost melting (thermokarst thermokarst) on the ) on the palsa palsa bog bog The first stage of permafrost melting ( ) surface (photographer S. Kirpotin, 1999, 2004 ) surface (photographer S. Kirpotin, 1999, 2004
The second stage of permafrost melting (thermokarst thermokarst) on the ) on the palsa palsa bog bog The second stage of permafrost melting ( ) surface (photographer S. Kirpotin, 1999 ) surface (photographer S. Kirpotin, 1999
The third stage of permafrost melting (thermokarst thermokarst) on the ) on the palsa palsa bog bog The third stage of permafrost melting ( ) surface (photographer S. Kirpotin, 1999, 2004 ) surface (photographer S. Kirpotin, 1999, 2004
Round lakes as a fourths stage of circle succession of permafrost t Round lakes as a fourths stage of circle succession of permafros ) degradation (photographer S. Kirpotin/ 1999 ) degradation (photographer S. Kirpotin/ 1999
Khasyrei - - dumped lake, which throw down it dumped lake, which throw down it’ ’s water to another reservoir, as a fifth s water to another reservoir, as a fifth Khasyrei stage of circle succession of permafrost degradation ( stage of circle succession of permafrost degradation ( photographer photographer S. Kirpotin, 1999) S. Kirpotin, 1999)
Mature khasyrei khasyrei with yang frozen peat hills, as a last stage of circle with yang frozen peat hills, as a last stage of circle Mature succession of palsa palsa’ ’s s dynamics (aerial photo) dynamics (aerial photo) succession of
The scheme of the circle The scheme of the circle palsa palsa’ ’s s dynamics succession dynamics succession
Fresh thermokarst Fresh thermokarst subsidence. You can see the dwarf shrubs go under subsidence. You can see the dwarf shrubs go under water ( water ( photographer photographer S. Kirpotin, 2004) S. Kirpotin, 2004)
Edge (shore- -line) of the small line) of the small thermokarst thermokarst lake lake, , You can see the dwarf You can see the dwarf Edge (shore shrubs go under water, , some of them are still alive some of them are still alive ( shrubs go under water ( photographer photographer S. Kirpotin, S. Kirpotin, 2004) 2004)
Edge of the big (1 km) lake ( Edge of the big (1 km) lake ( photographer photographer S. Kirpotin, 2004) S. Kirpotin, 2004)
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