Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Editor's note
- Acknowledgements
- Notes on translations and definitions
- Abstract
- Preface
- Introduction
- I Thermal-physical, physico-chemical and mechanical processes in freezing, frozen and thawing ground and their manifestation in the permafrost regions
- II Composition, cryogenic structure and properties of frozen rocks
- III Principles of the formation and development of the frozen strata and layers of seasonal freezing and thawing
- 10 Thermodynamic and climatic conditions for formation of the frozen layers
- 11 Seasonal freezing and thawing of ground
- 12 Development of the temperature regime and the thickness of the permafrost
- 13 Taliks and groundwater in the permafrost zone
- IV Regional features and evolution of permafrost
- V Rational use of frozen ground and environmental protection in the course of economic development of the permafrost regions
- References
- Index
12 - Development of the temperature regime and the thickness of the permafrost
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 November 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Editor's note
- Acknowledgements
- Notes on translations and definitions
- Abstract
- Preface
- Introduction
- I Thermal-physical, physico-chemical and mechanical processes in freezing, frozen and thawing ground and their manifestation in the permafrost regions
- II Composition, cryogenic structure and properties of frozen rocks
- III Principles of the formation and development of the frozen strata and layers of seasonal freezing and thawing
- 10 Thermodynamic and climatic conditions for formation of the frozen layers
- 11 Seasonal freezing and thawing of ground
- 12 Development of the temperature regime and the thickness of the permafrost
- 13 Taliks and groundwater in the permafrost zone
- IV Regional features and evolution of permafrost
- V Rational use of frozen ground and environmental protection in the course of economic development of the permafrost regions
- References
- Index
Summary
Present-day knowledge of the development of permafrost
Knowledge of the development of permafrost has been arrived at gradually. In the 1930s M.L Sumgin substantiated the theory of the degradation of permafrost (with warming, thawing and northward retreat). Having compared the severe climate of glacial epochs with the warmer present one, Sumgin came to the conclusion that the permafrost formed simultaneously with the ice sheets and had subsequently thawed retreating northward, i.e. it had degraded. He presented data indicating displacement of the southern limit of permafrost northward. However such researchers as S.G. Parkhomenko, P.I. Koloskov, P.N. Kapterev, D.V. Redozubov and others pointed out the fact of new permafrost formation, permafrost temperature decrease and its increase in thickness in other regions of the country. Contrary to Sumgin they followed the alternative theory – that of aggradation, i.e. they reasoned that the process of permafrost advance is taking place at the present time. According to their views the permafrost is a result of recent heat exchange (the last 3–5 thousand years) in the system ‘atmosphere-lithosphere’. These two points of view were antagonistic for 10–15 years and only V.A. Kudryavtsev's basic works (1953–1963) clarifying the basis for the present theory of permafrost development gave the proper interpretation of these points of view.
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- General Geocryology , pp. 373 - 387Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1998