Synthesis and Integration of Environmental Data Along the East Siberian Transect and Comparison of Active Layer and Permafrost Conditions with an Alaskan Transect

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ABSTRACT OPP-9721347 ROMANOVSKY UNIV. ALASKA This project is designed to gather and synthesize currently available environmental data (landscape characteristics, meteorology, active layer and permafrost characteristics) along the East Siberian transect through the Sakha Republic, Russia, in a GIS with the same format as being planned in Alaska. The data will be used to calibrate currently available numerical and analytical models at 15 to 20 sites and be used to investigate current active layer and permafrost conditions, to scale up the results, to investigate past active layer and permafrost conditions using the meteorological record and temperatures in permafrost boreholes, and to predict future (50 to 100 years) active layer and permafrost conditions using available climatic scenarios for the region. Information on past and future variations in the active layer and permafrost is important in assessing past and future changes in the decomposition and storage of carbon in arctic soils which governs the release of trace gases to the atmosphere. Thawing of permafrost will allow plants to tap more nutrients leading to changes in the arctic ecosystems. The proposed study is designed to integrate with existing and future research projects in the program by providing data for use in model parameterization and validating other model predictions.