Permafrost in the Yamal‐Gydan area of Western Siberia

Abstract

The article presents a précis of available information on permafrost conditions in the tundra environment of the Yamal‐Gydan area, much of it collected during expeditions of 1970–72; although it never claims to be a study of applied aspects, the article indicates that the present intensive activity in the area in terms of oil and gas exploration is never far from the author's mind. Permafrost temperatures in the area vary from ‐6° to ‐9°C in the north and ‐1° to ‐5°C in the south. The range of permafrost depths is quite wide, from a maximum of 450 m (west of Lake Neyto) to 2–5 m in coastal marshes. Groundwater conditions are examined in some detail, with the possibilities of potential water supply in mind. Variations in the depth and temperature of the active layer, and the types, amounts and distribution of underground ice are discussed with a view to possible problems which these phenomena might pose in terms of exploitation. For example, it was calculated that massive underground ice underlies 13.2% of the land area (in the Lake Neyto area) and that the ice content of the permafrost to depths of 20–30 m reaches 30–50% of total volume. The implications of any disruption of the thermal regime are obvious. (The translation is by William Barr, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon.)