The Global Climate Observing System and Global Terrestrial Observing Network have identified permafrost as an 'Essential Climate Variable,' for which ground temperature and active layer dynamics are ...key variables. This work presents long-term climate, and permafrost monitoring data at seven sites representative of diverse climatic and environmental conditions in the western Russian Arctic. The region of interest is experiencing some of the highest rates of permafrost degradation globally. Since 1970, mean annual air temperatures and precipitation have increased at rates from 0.05 to 0.07 °C yr−1 and 1 to 3 mm yr−1 respectively. In response to changing climate, all seven sites examined show evidence of rapid permafrost degradation. Mean annual ground temperatures increases from 0.03 to 0.06 °C yr−1 at 10-12 m depth were observed in continuous permafrost zone. The permafrost table at all sites has lowered, up to 8 m in the discontinuous permafrost zone. Three stages of permafrost degradation are characterized for the western Russian Arctic based on the observations reported.
Two new species with forehead processes are described from the east of the European part and Western Siberia. Megalothorax processus sp. nov. has a long cuticular process extended at the tip. The ...cuticular process in M. roseus sp. nov. is formed by a group of four papillae. Two other species, M. potapovi Schneider, Porco & Deharveng, 2016 and M. sanctistephani Christian, 1998, with a "nose" in the frontal part of the head are known from the Far East of Russia and West Europe, respectively. The «noses» probably arise independently in the four species; their function is unclear. Apart from the form of the forehead processes M. processus sp. nov. differs from M. roseus sp. nov. by the shape of sensilla within sensory fields (flame-shaped vs. globular) and the absence of chaeta а0 (vs. present in M. roseus sp. nov.). Chaetotaxy of the frontal part of the head and abdomen is reduced in both species.
An overview of the Late Pleistocene and Holocene stratigraphy of the southeastern White Sea region is presented in the paper, based upon the analysis of published data, new results, and correlation ...between marine and terrestrial archives. The Pleistocene stratigraphic record in the southeastern White Sea region begins with Mikulino Horizon, which comprises the whole MIS 5 and is composed of marine sediments – sands, sandy clays and clays – with Boreal, Arctic–Boreal and Lusitanean–Boreal microfauna and mollusc fauna, dated back at 161–77 ka. The Podporozhie Horizon in the southeastern White Sea region comprises the MIS 4 (71–57 ka) complex of marine mostly near-shore sediments. The glaciation during MIS 4 was localized, on one hand, within the Kola Peninsula. On the other hand, the glacier probably overlapped the Kanin Peninsula and the Mezen Bay, however the Gorlo Strait was not blocked and the northward river outflow was preserved. The Leningrad Horizon had been formed also in the marine sedimentation pattern during the MIS 3 (57–29 ka). However, the lack of data in the region allows us to make only the comparative analysis. The Ostashkov Horizon (MIS 2, 29–11.7 ka) is composed of the deposits of glacial paragenetic series: tills, glaciofluvial, glaciomarine, and glaciolacustrine deposits, but also comprises the deglaciation (Late Glacial) sedimentary complex including marginal tills. The Holocene stratigraphic record is subdivided into three stages – 11.7–9.5, 9.5–3.5 and 3.5–0 ka BP, and do not match with new formal stratigraphic subdivision of the Holocene series.
The recent intensification of energy resource exploration and human activities in the Barents Sea (BS) requires a more thorough assessment of the natural and anthropogenic impact of hydrocarbons on ...the environment. We analyzed a wide set of sensitive indicators, including hydrocarbon molecular markers and organic matter (OM) maturity parameters in the Holocene sediments from three regions of the BS: the Kola-Kanin Monocline (KKM), the Svalbard shelf, and the Shtokman gas-condensate field (GCF). An increase in pyrogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons toward the core surface traces the intensification of anthropogenic contamination in the KKM region during last century. An input of highly mature OM from the eroded coal rocks of Barentsburg were confirmed by comparison of biomarker distribution in sediments and coals. An increase in biogenic hopanes and hopenes content down-core, and a crude-oil stage of OM maturity in surface sediments of the Shtokman GCF attests to hydrocarbons migration from subsurface strata.
•Recent sediments from Svalbard Shelf, Shtokman and Kola-Kanin Monocline areas studied•Significant variation in hydrocarbons genesis in the Barents Sea sediments detected•Svalbard sediments show the highest level of organic matter maturity.•In the Shtokman area, molecular marker distributions indicated hydrocarbon migration•Sediment PAH composition of Kola-Kanin Monocline suggested anthropogenic impact.
In the Trollfjord–Rybachy–Kanin fault zone, the major convergent suture between the East European and West Arctic platforms, on the isthmus of Cape Vestnik located between the Sredny and Rybachy ...peninsulas, in the Riphean terrigenous sequence, massifs of disintegrated granitoids have been identified, primarily belonging to the Archean crystalline basement and which subsequently underwent tectonic extrusion to the upper horizons in the form of protrusions. Petrographic studies of disintegrated rocks from the Vestnik granitoid massif and the surrounding rocks indicate their high permeability and porosity in shattering zones. The positive Eu anomaly and decrease in content of light rare earth elements indicates the reducing nature of the fluids that affected disintegrated rocks, contributing to their formation under decompression conditions. The buried massifs of disintegrated granites may have reservoir properties. U–Pb and Sm–Nd isotopic studies of disintegrated plagiogranites with a model age of 2966 Ma has made it possible to correlate them with the rocks from the Murmansk block of the Baltic Shield. According to Sm–Nd data, the dolerite dike that cuts the plagiogranite massif has an age of 1333 ± 160 Ma (Middle Riphean) on pyrite and plagioclase, which corresponds to fragmentation of the basement at the initial continental rifting stage, which led to the formation of the White Sea paleorift system. East of Cape Vestnik, within the water area of the Barents Sea, a chain of linear–arched contrasting negative anomalies has been recorded in the gravity field. They are interpreted with high probability as reflections of the plate-shaped massifs of disintegrated granitoids included in the Riphean sedimentary sequence along the Trollfjord–Rybachy–Kanin shear zone, which may suggest a promising hydrocarbon potential of this zone under certain conditions.
The S-19 Cave was with its explored depth of 177 m one of the most important caves of the Mt. Kanin massif, but after its discovery in 1974, a huge snow avalanche protection dyke was constructed ...across the cave entrance. To excavate the buried cave, the accurate location of the cave had to be determined first. Since the entrance coordinates were incorrect and no markers were available, application of geophysical techniques was necessary to do this. A Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) with special 50 MHz rough terrain antennas was selected as the single suitable geophysical method for the given conditions where thick debris overlay a rugged limestone surface. Nevertheless, it was not possible to directly detect the relatively narrow cave entrance itself due to data resolution limits. However, a historical photo of the area showed that the cave entrance was located in a local depression, which therefore represented the main target of the GPR survey. Seven GPR profiles were measured across the rough and steep surface causing difficulties in traversing the area with sensitive research equipment. In all recorded radargrams a small depression was clearly imaged under debris, and recognized as a topographic feature with the cave entrance. Based on the GPR data interpretation, the exact location for digging was determined and the thickness of debris assessed at 6.5–7 m. A massive excavation by a dredger resulted in a successful opening of the cave entrance, confirming both its geophysically determined location and its estimated depth. The application of an advanced geophysical method was therefore proven successful in providing a solution to this specific case in karst exploration and an important cave was saved.
This paper discusses the distribution of terrestrial vertebrates in the northeastern part of the Kanin Peninsula (67°50′47″ N, 46°20′40″ E) based on the results of their census conducted in July ...2021. In total, 1 amphibian species, 1 reptile species, 57 bird species, and 6 mammal species have been recorded. The following bird species have been recorded in the tundra zone of the Kanin Peninsula for the first time: tufted duck (
Aythya fuligula
L.), common eider (
Somateria mollissima
L.), pallid harrier (
Circus macrourus
S.G. Gmelin), and common sandpiper (
Actitis hypoleucos
L.). A distinct feature of the vertebrate fauna inhabiting this region located in the low-growing dwarf-birch tundra belt is the presence of boreal species, including common frog (
Rana temporaria
L.), viviparous lizard (
Zootoca vivipara
Lichtenstein), tufted duck, common goldeneye (
Bucephala clangula
L.), Eurasian crane (
Grus grus
L.), common sandpiper, brown bear (
Ursus arctos
L.), and European elk (
Alces alces
L). So far, this is the northernmost known habitat of the viviparous lizard. The following factors are favorable for the presence of boreal species in this area: its location on the southern slope of the plateaulike Kanin Kamen Ridge and ruggedness of its relief, including deep river valleys with well-heated slopes protected from winds. It is established that the spatial density of the Arctic fox (
Alopex lagopus
L.) brood burrows has decreased ten times when compared with the 1940–1950s due to the activation of cryogenic processes in permafrost that destroy the burrows dug by this predator in loose soils.
PDF
