No 2 (2025)
Articles
Long-term creep of frozen soils in multi-year tests
Abstract
This study focuses on the long-term creep behavior of frozen saline soils (sand, silty, loam) under constant temperature and mechanical loading conditions. The frozen soil samples were collected in situ from modern marine and alluvial Quaternary deposits on the Yamal Peninsula. Special attention is given to the temporal deformation dynamics under uniaxial compression. The research aims to identify patterns in deformation rate changes, analyze both primary (transient) and secondary (steady-state) creep stages, and compare experimental results with theoretical models of aging, hardening, and flow behavior. Experiments were conducted during 9 years in the underground laboratory of the Amderma Permafrost Station at a depth of 14 meters, which enabled investigation into the long-term mechanical behavior of frozen soils. The findings are of significant importance for predicting the stability of building foundations in permafrost regions and for preventing structural failures. The research method involved prolonged laboratory testing of frozen soil specimens using uniaxial compression under constant temperature and stress conditions. The scientific novelty of this study lies in the unprecedented duration of the experiments (to 9 years), which far exceeds the time frames of most previously conducted creep tests. In most existing studies, the maximum duration of creep testing for frozen soils in various conditions did not exceed several months. For the first time over such an extended time span, it has been shown that sands and silty exhibit a transition from unstable to stable deformation stages, whereas loams demonstrate nonlinear behavior, presumably due to crack formation and internal structural changes. The application of mathematical modeling enabled refinement of deformation prediction parameters, which is of practical significance for engineering calculations. The obtained results enhance the reliability of foundation stability assessments and provide a scientific basis for the design of buildings and infrastructure in permafrost regions.
Arctic and Antarctica. 2025;(2):1-14
1-14
Assessment of air quality in the area of the future ecotechnopark "Vostok" (Usolye-Sibirskoye, Irkutsk region) based on snow geochemical survey data.
Abstract
The subject of the work is the development of a methodology for snow geochemical research for effective express assessment of air quality under technogenic influence from various industrial sources that shape complex environmental pollution, as well as the creation of an informational and cartographic basis for further ecological monitoring of a significant area in the Baikal region. By examining a detailed assessment of atmospheric pollution in the area of the construction of the "Vostochniy" ecotechnopark, a comparative analysis of the informativeness of cartograms showing the distribution of pollutants in snow water and solid residue is conducted. The surveyed area contains various sources of technogenic impact, ranging from metallurgical enterprises to heat energy generation facilities; thus, this case excellently illustrates the advantages of the snow geochemical survey method as the most representative way to assess atmospheric pollution in the tasks of ecological monitoring in "winter" regions, mitigating ecological risks from new mining projects in the northern part of Eurasia, and controlling industrial activities in cities with a persistent snow cover. Optimizing this type of geoecological research is a highly relevant task. Seasonal snow samples were collected, and the snow water was melted and filtered to separate soluble and insoluble forms of pollutants. A chemical analysis of the snow water and solid residue was performed. Element associations corresponding to various sources of impacts were determined. Cartographic materials characterizing the distribution of pollutants across the area were presented. The research allows for a clear comparison of results obtained using the traditional, yet costly, methodology for analyzing snow water through precision chemical-analytical methods such as ICP-AES/MS, and through an express and inexpensive methodology for analyzing solid residue using non-destructive analysis (XRF). It was shown that the latter method is also quite informative, allowing for a detailed characterization of the geoecological situation over a significant area with minimal costs, identifying and mapping zones with abnormally technogenic conditions in the atmosphere. As a result, the most detailed spatial characterization of air pollution in the area of Usolye-Sibirskoye is provided, which is a constant focus of attention from state ecological control authorities as a rehabilitated site of accumulated environmental damage and simultaneously a promising production site. The described methodological approaches are applicable to a wide range of geoecological situations in regions with prolonged winters.
Arctic and Antarctica. 2025;(2):15-34
15-34
The concentration of major soluble ions in the ice core of the pingo at the Pestsovoye gas field, in the Evoyakha River valley of southern Tazovsky Peninsula, Northwestern Siberia
Abstract
The author describes more than 20 pingos at the Pestsovoye gas field, located 10-15 km north of the Tundra station, 98-103 km from the town of Novy Urengoy. The investigated pingo's height ranges from 15 to 20 meters, and its diameter is 150 to 200 meters. Most often, the profile of these formations features a lower part – a pedestal, approximately 5-7 m high—over which the main hill rises in a dome-like shape. More thorough dating of the overlying peat was done on one of the 17-meter-tall hills, which is 10 kilometers north of the Tundra station (29–30 kilometers after the turn to Pestsovoye from the main highway leading from Novy Urengoy). The results showed that these pingos formed relatively recently, at least not earlier than 2,500 years BP. This timing suggests that the geological processes leading to their formation may have been influenced by climatic changes in the region. Understanding the age and development of these structures can provide insights into past environmental conditions and inform predictions about future landscape evolution in response to ongoing climate shifts. Peat covering the middle part of the hill and the area close to the pedestal's base was sampled in order to establish the pingo's age. In the winter of 2013, ice samples were taken from the pingo core. With a detection limit of 0.02 mg/L for chloride ions, the ion chromatograph "Stayer" (Russia) was used to measure the macro-component composition of the ice. Radiocarbon dating of the peat showed a relatively young age of the overlying peat in different parts of the hill. In the central part of the pingo, surface peat is dated at 2560 ± 70 BP, peat from a depth of 0.3-0.4 m is dated at 5220 ± 50 BP, and peat from a depth of 0.85-0.9 m has an age of 5080 ± 50 BP. On the pedestal, peat from a depth of 0.05-0.15 m is dated at 5400 ± 40 BP. In the ice core of the pingo were determined ions of potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, chlorine, sulfates, and nitrates. Among the anions, the chlorine ion predominates (from 0.6 to 3.3 mg/L), followed by the sulfate ion (from 0.3 to 1 mg/L). The ratio of chlorine ions to sulfate ions varies from 0.7 to 3.7, averaging 1.7.
Arctic and Antarctica. 2025;(2):35-55
35-55
Yakutsk Complex Expedition of the USSR Academy of Sciences 1925–1930 and Issues of Permafrost Studying
Abstract
The paper examines a poorly studied aspect of the implementation of the largest in scale and objectives scientific research initiative of its time – the Yakut complex expedition of the USSR Academy of Sciences in 1925-1930. The objective of the study is to reconstruct the history of accumulation of information by the participants of this expedition concerning understanding of the phenomenon of permafrost. Based on materials found in archival and museum collections of the cities of Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yakutsk, including those introduced into scientific circulation for the first time, and the use of documents published based on the results of the expedition, the history of research conducted in the Shergin mine in Yakutsk is shown. The most representative conclusions made by researchers during their work in a number of administrative districts of the Yakut ASSR, primarily as part of agricultural detachments, are presented. In methodological terms, this article is based mainly on the application of special historical approaches to scientific knowledge: the principle of historicism, historical-typological, historical-comparative and historical-genetic methods. As a result of the studies, the history of accumulation of information on permafrost by the participants of the Yakut complex expedition is presented, conclusions are made on the significance of the research performed. In this regard, it was established that despite the absence of a specialized geocryological squad, an unsuccessful attempt to organize a systematic scientific study of the phenomenon of permafrost, the expedition participants received a set of important information characterizing the specifics and scale of some cryogenic processes. In particular, they indicate significant thermokarst activity within agricultural lands in the first quarter of the twentieth century. Of considerable interest are also the examples of traditional knowledge of the rural population of Yakutia noted by the participants of the Yakutsk complex expedition regarding some features of the formation of thermokarst landforms, which for the first time in historiography made it possible to make certain comparisons regarding the degree of correspondence with modern ideas about cryogenic processes.
Arctic and Antarctica. 2025;(2):56-68
56-68
Engineering and geocryological assessment of the impact of mineral extraction on permafrost degradation within the Arctic cryolithozone of Russia
Abstract
The present study focuses on the engineering and geocryological assessment of the thermal impact of mineral extraction activities on the degradation of permafrost within the Arctic cryolithozone of Russia. The research is centered on the Yunyaginsky coal strip mine and adjacent underground mines of the Pechora coal basin, including Vorgashorskaya, Vorkutinskaya, and Zapolyarnaya. These mining facilities are located in regions characterized by widespread permafrost and are subject to increasing anthropogenic pressure from thermal emissions associated with open-pit and underground coal extraction. The study examines how persistent thermal loads from mining infrastructure, spoil heaps, and ventilation emissions contribute to active layer deepening, moisture redistribution, and strength loss in frozen soils. The assessment accounts for the spatial variability of thermal anomalies and their correlation with operational factors, such as excavation intensity, ventilation flow rates, and drainage water temperature. The study uses a combination of field-based temperature monitoring, geotechnical borehole sampling, laboratory testing of permafrost samples, and numerical modeling of heat transfer processes to evaluate the extent and rate of permafrost degradation under thermal stress. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the quantitative characterization of thermal fields generated by mining operations in Arctic permafrost conditions and the identification of threshold conditions under which permafrost degradation accelerates. Numerical simulations and empirical data indicate that under a thermal load density exceeding 100 W/m², permafrost thawing reaches depths of 3–4 meters over five years. Field observations revealed that the maximum depth of seasonal thawing doubled in the impact zone compared to background sites, reaching 2.8 meters. Additionally, localized permafrost loss was documented in areas near spoil heaps and mine water discharge zones, where ground temperatures exceeded 0 °C and moisture content rose above 35%. The findings underscore the necessity for thermoprotective engineering measures, such as insulated platforms, passive thermosiphons, and automated thermal monitoring systems, to mitigate infrastructure risks and ensure sustainable mining operations in Arctic environments.
Arctic and Antarctica. 2025;(2):69-82
69-82
The mechanism of methane emissions during surface freeze in autumn
Abstract
Currently, one of the global environmental problems is global warming caused by increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Methane is one of the key gases that affect climate change. Methane concentrations in the atmosphere have increased significantly over the past 20 years and continue to increase to this day. Scientists and politicians around the world are concerned about this problem and are looking for ways to solve global warming. Under the general trend of global warming, the study of the characteristics of methane emissions in frozen rocks is of great significance for accurately assessing and predicting the content of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The subject of this study is the mechanism of methane emission during surface freezing in autumn. The object of this study is methane emission under freezing conditions. In this paper, a unique software package Solidworks is considered as a method for studying methane emissions, which suggests its use in such areas as engineering geology, permafrost, soil science, etc. The scientific novelty of this study is that it develops the mechanisms of methane emission during temperature changes in autumn from different surfaces: from the surface of water bodies and from the surface of the soil, and the article proposes methods for monitoring this mechanism and managing methane emissions during seasonal cooling. In addition, a comparative table of factors influencing methane emissions in water bodies and soil during surface freezing in autumn is presented. A conclusion is made about the possibility of reducing these factors to a common denominator and applying to all elements of the ecosystem. To develop the mechanisms of methane emissions, this paper examined relevant scientific and experimental studies of the last five to ten years, such as methane measurements in peatlands of China and Japan, on Lake Kortowskie (Poland), in Northern Alaska, in the tundra and in permafrost conditions. The results of this study are the patterns of methane emissions during soil and water freezing in the autumn period. It was revealed that the factors affecting methanogenesis for both soil and water bodies have a similar origin, which is due to the fact that they are located in the same ecosystem.
Arctic and Antarctica. 2025;(2):83-98
83-98
Gas emission funnels as an object of geocryology (Part 1)
Abstract
This publication is the first part of an article that demonstrates the significant role of the cryogenic factor in the preparation of pneumatic explosions within the body of permafrost rocks, based on an analysis of data available in scientific literature. The object of the study is local cryogenic gas-dynamic geosystems, the development of which leads to pneumatic explosions and the formation of gas blowout craters. The subject of the study is the morphology and structure of cryogenic formations in frozen rocks that make up the gas blowout craters found in the northern part of Western Siberia. The authors thoroughly examine aspects of the topic such as the analysis and generalization of data on the cryogenic structure of various elements in gas blowout craters. Special attention is given to the study of various deformations of primary ice formations, which allows tracking the history of the emergence and development of local gas-dynamic geosystems within permafrost rocks. The authors do not address questions related to the genesis of gas, as they believe that the pressure processes occurring in local gas-saturated zones with increased pressure do not depend on its origin. The main method used in this article is the analysis of materials from scientific publications on the subject, as well as laboratory modeling data conducted by the authors. The synthesis of the analyzed materials is based on a geosystemic approach. A significant contribution of the authors to the study of the topic is the identification of a common pattern in the structure of gas blowout craters. All craters that are not filled with water and are accessible for study exhibit a three-part structure. At the bottom of the craters, an expansion is observed, sometimes due to caverns and grottoes. In the middle part, the cross-section of the craters decreases, and the walls of the crater are most often steep and even. In the upper part, an expansion is observed in the shape of a flare. The novelty of the research lies in uncovering the paragenetic relationships between the morphological structure of the craters, the stages of development of the gas-dynamic geosystem that prepares conditions for pneumatic explosions, and the complexes of processes at each stage. The main conclusions of the research include the identification of the leading role of gas pressure in the transformation of the cryogenic structure of frozen rocks at all stages.
Arctic and Antarctica. 2025;(2):99-116
99-116
Forecast estimates of hydrocarbon potential areas of Antarctica based on geophysical data measured within the concentric geological-morphological features of the Earth's crust and glacial cover
Abstract
The subject of this article is the concentric geological-morphological features identified in Antarctica in the glacial cover, the seismotectonic structure of the earth's crust, the values of heat flow, and the number of lakes. Previously, the interrelationships of the geographical location of concentric geologic-morphological features and the degassing of methane effluents from the subglacial layers of the earth's crust in the Arctic were revealed. The article examines the concentric features identified by the results of digitized relief maps of various deep surfaces (the surface of glaciers, the "over-cover", the "sole-cover" of the earth's crust), the values of heat flow, the number of lakes in Antarctica based on satellite, ground-based geophysical data used to prospecting of hydrocarbon deposits. The scope of the results is related to probabilistic forecasting of regions that are promising for prospecting and exploration of new hydrocarbon deposits in Antarctica. At the same time, reference statistical data were used on the densities of the distribution of thickness crust and heat flow corresponding to the Gaussian distribution characteristic of the concentric features of the Russian oil and gas basins. It is shown for the first time that the spatial arrangement of the number of subglacial lakes within certain areas of concentric geological-morphological features in Antarctica can be approximated in accordance with the distribution described by Poisson's law. The research methods are based on the principles of probability theory and statistics. Histograms and distribution densities are constructed, the average risk (Bayes criterion) is determined, the decision threshold for heat flow values, and the areas of concentric features normalized to the number of subglacial lakes in them, measured within the location of 48 concentric features. The scientific novelty of the conducted research lies in the fact that for the first time the coordinates of the geographical location, spatial dimensions (diameters of 200-1000 kilometers) were determined and estimates of the probabilities were made to predict the hydrocarbon potential of 48 concentric geological-morphological features identified on the surface of the glacial cover and the upper and lower layers of the earth's crust in Antarctica. The main conclusions of the study are the revealed interrelations of hydrocarbon-perspective concentric geological-morphological features of the seismotectonic structure of the earth's crust (Moho), values of heat flow and density of distribution of subglacial lakes in Antarctica. The practical novelty of the study lies in the fact that, for the first time, mathematical forecasting of the presence of hydrocarbon-promising concentric geological-morphological features on the territory of East and West Antarctica has been performed.
Arctic and Antarctica. 2025;(2):117-140
117-140
Errors in linearizing the dependence of the thermal conductivity coefficient of snow on density
Abstract
The subject of the research is the functional dependence of the thermal conductivity coefficient of snow on its density. The object of the research was the linearization of the function expressed by a polynomial of arbitrary degree, characteristic of the quantitative dependence of the thermal conductivity coefficient on the density of snow. Special attention is paid to the analysis of errors arising from replacing a polynomial function with a linear one. Particular attention is also given to the analysis of existing functional dependencies of the thermal conductivity coefficient on snow density, which is an integral indicator of complex heat and mass transfer processes occurring during the metamorphism of the snow cover. The main formulas for predicting the thermal conductivity coefficient based on snow density have been analyzed. All dependencies are conditionally divided into two groups: linear and nonlinear (expressed by polynomials of the second, third, and fourth degrees). To find the point corresponding to the maximum value of the linearization error of the second group of methods, an appropriate target function has been constructed and studied in its most general form. When constructing the function defining the absolute error that arises from linearization, a generalized polynomial of derivative degree, which describes known experimental and theoretical dependencies of the thermal conductivity coefficient of snow on its density, was taken as the original formulas. The resulting function was analyzed for its maximum using the classical method of differentiating the original dependence with respect to the argument. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that for the first time a dependence has been obtained between the error arising from the linear and nonlinear representations of the experimental approximating dependencies of the thermal conductivity coefficient of snow and its density. It has been shown that when linearizing a quadratic dependence (Abel's, Kondratyeva's, Brecht's, Sturm's formulas, etc.), the maximum absolute error is found in the middle of the averaging interval. At this point, its value equals the value of the original function. As the degree of the polynomial increases, the maximum error shifts toward the upper boundary of the linearization interval and changes, for example, for the cubic polynomial (Van Dussen's formula) to a value equal to 0.58 of the linearization range. For the fourth-degree polynomial (Jansen's formula), it reaches 0.63 of the range. When the degree is reduced to less than two (Yen's, Schwander's formula), on the contrary, the maximum linearization error shifts from the middle of the interval to the lower boundary.
Arctic and Antarctica. 2025;(2):141-149
141-149