Causes and Processes of Thermo‐Erosional Gully Initiation Near Tiksi Settlement, Arctic Eastern Siberia

Anna Tarbeeva, Yana Tikhonravova, Lyudmila Lebedeva, Anna Kut and Vladimir Shamov

Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, 2024, vol. 35, issue 3, 357-372

Abstract: Climatic and environmental change is leading to increased frequency and intensity of permafrost degradation processes; however, our knowledge of their mechanisms and rate is still limited. We examined structure of deposits, surface topography, and weather conditions during the initiation of a thermo‐erosion gully in eastern Siberia and monitored its changes between 2020 and 2022. The initiation of the gully was caused by a combination of processes: (1) the catchment area of the gully was artificially increased several decades ago as a result of the interception of runoff by the winter road; (2) ice‐wedge degradation led to surface runoff concentration above the gully head, while a large volume of ground ice remained in other parts of the slope, and frost cracking continued; (3) the entry of water into frost cracks formed underground tunnels; and (4) high air temperatures and heavy rainfall immediately before the gully appearance resulted in the expansion of the tunnels and collapse of their roof. In 2 years, the volume of the gully reached 1000 m3; at least 40% of that volume consists of ground ice. The gully development did not significantly change the water chemistry due to significant water freshening caused by melting of ground ice.

Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wly:perpro:v:35:y:2024:i:3:p:357-372

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