CLIMATE CHANGE AND DYNAMICS OF THE PERMAFROST ON SVALBARD

Abstract

According to the meteorological station Barentsburg the average positive temperature of air on West Spitsbergen for the period of 1985–2011 years grows by 0,02 °C/year, and for the period of 2002–2011 it is reduced on 0,03 °C/year. The average negative temperature of air for these periods grows with intensity 0.09 °C/year and 0.20 °C/year, accordingly. Tendency of the growth of the snow cover maximal thickness is kept. During 2007–2009 the maximal thickness of snow cover reached 2 m. As a result of it deterioration of soil conditions is freezing. The temperature of soil on the depth of 1 mreaches –6 °С for maximal snow thickness of 0.5 mand it reaches –1 °С for snow thickness of 2 m. During the summer period the growth of soil temperature is interfered by the moss cover. The depth of thawed soil is reduced more than 80% for a moss thickness 10 cm. In winter, the moss is not an essential obstacle for soil freezing and cooling. The moss heat conductivity coefficient in winter corresponds to the snow heat conductivity coefficient for density 400 kg/m³. Results of mathematical modelling and calculations are showed that at real meteorological parameters and absence of the moss cover talik can formed.