Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions ›› 2017, Vol. 9 ›› Issue (4): 398-403.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1226.2017.00398

• ARTICLES • Previous Articles    

Permafrost response to climate change in the Northern Tien Shan

Eduard Severskiy   

  1. Kazakhstan Alpine Permafrost Laboratory, Melnikov Permafrost Institute SB RAS, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan
  • Received:2017-02-20 Revised:2017-03-20 Published:2018-11-23
  • Contact: Dr. Eduard Severskiy, Kazakhstan Alpine Permafrost Laboratory, Melnikov Permafrost Institute SB RAS, Glavpochtamt P.O. Box 138, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan. Tel: 7272-673791; E-mail: permafrost.08@mail.ru E-mail:permafrost.08@mail.ru

Abstract: This paper presents the results of long-term studies on the response of mountain permafrost in the Northern Tien Shan to changes in climate. Significant warming has been observed in the region over the past 70 years. Records from the high-elevation weather stations Tuyuksu-1 (3,450 m a.s.l.) and Mynzhylki (3,017 m a.s.l.) indicate a warming trend of 0.02 ℃/a in the mean annual air temperature during this period. Permafrost temperatures have increased at a rate of about 0.01 ℃/a over the 40-year observation period. The effects of local factors, including slope aspect, tectonic faulting, snow cover, and human activities, on the distribution of temperature and thickness of permafrost are discussed in the paper.

Key words: permafrost, temperature, thickness, geophysics, tectonic faulting, anthropogenic impact

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