16 - Principles and methods for regional geocryological investigations

Summary

Geocryological survey as the basis for regional investigation of the seasonally and perennially freezing zones

Purposes and problems

Geocryological conditions and their spatial variability are dictated by the features of the natural environment (such as geological and tectonic structure, hydrogeological and thermal-physical conditions, landscape-climatic surroundings and topography) and by the history of the development of the permafrost in the Cenozoic. Geocryological conditions in the regions of the seasonally and perennially freezing zones are studied following geocryological surveys. The development of principles and methods for such surveys are to a great extent associated with the work of V.A. Kudryavtsev.

The geocryological survey represents by his definition a system of field, laboratory and office work the purpose of which is: to study the principles of formation and development of seasonally and perennially frozen ground and low-temperature geological processes as a function of the natural conditions, their change in the Pleistocene and Holocene, as well as a result of the economic development of the region; to compile geocryological maps and to make geocryological forecasts on this basis as well as to work out the measures to control the permafrost processes and to protect the environment.

For purposes of the geocryological survey we can examine the following matters (15):

1. the principles of the distribution of seasonally and perennially frozen ground over the area depending on the variability of the geological-geographical environment and on the details of heat exchange at the Earth's surface;

2. […]