Polygons in tundra wetlands: state and dynamics under climate variability in Polar Regions (POLYGON)

永久冻土地区受到持续的全球变暖的强烈影响。被多年冻土覆盖的广泛分布的多边形湿地的北极图案地面被认为对环境和气候变化敏感。在生态和古生态相结合的方法下，将在西伯利亚东北部低地沿地理梯度的三个具有代表性的地点研究现代、次现代和化石冰楔多边形，以了解多边形动力学的时空变化及其与气候变化的关系。在拟议的研究设计中，湖沼学、(古)生态学、土壤学和冰冻学方法紧密相连，以彻底评估现代和古环境条件及其主要强迫参数。将研究陆地和水生物种群落，观察和评估影响多边形景观的低温过程。拟议项目的结果将使人们能够预测多年冻土地区未来的环境动态。申请者进行了广泛的准备工作，包括方法测试、实地考察和合作安排，以确保项目的可行性。该项目将汇集德国和俄罗斯在北极生态和永久冻土科学方面的专业知识，并辅之以国际合作伙伴。

Permafrost regions are strongly affected by ongoing global warming. The widely distributed Arctic patterned ground of polygonal wetlands underlain by permafrost is considered to be sensitive to environmental and climate changes. In a combined ecological and palaeo-ecological approach, modern, sub-recent and fossil ice-wedge polygons will be studied at three representative sites along a geographical gradient in the northeast Siberian lowlands in order to understand the temporal and spatial variations of polygon dynamics and their relation to climate change. In the proposed study design limnological, (palaeo-)ecological, pedological and cryological methods are tightly interconnected to assess modern and palaeo-environmental conditions and their main forcing parameters thoroughly. Terrestrial and aquatic species communities will be studied and cryogenic processes affecting polygonal landscape will be observed and evaluated. Results from the proposed project will allow predicting future environmental dynamics in permafrost regions. Extensive preparatory work including methodological tests, site visits and cooperation arrangements was performed by the applicants to ensure the feasibility of the project. The project will bring together German and Russian expertise in Arctic ecology and permafrost science complemented by international partners.