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Dr. Anatoly Sinitsyn during the Survey on Medynsky Zavarot Peninsula, July 2012.
Photo: Ivan Rodionov
Drilling works on Pesyakov Island, July 2012.
Photo: Anatoly Sinitsyn
50 SAMC
o
T • Annual report 2012
According to Moscow State University (MSU) professor
Anatoli Brouchkov, “It is important to establish research
sites for studies of coastal permafrost, with the inten
tion of long-termmonitoring. To build sustainable infra
structure along the northern-most coastlines, where
bedrock may not exist and fine-grained soils contribute
to significant erosion and instability, one must under
stand coastal permafrost behaviour, in particular the
mechanisms causing high erosion rates.”
To develop models required to determine historic
erosion behaviour patterns andmonitor changes into the
future, researchers employed a number of resources.
The scientists culled initial data for creation of the
model from topographical surveys, satellite images
and meteorological records, as well as existing studies
citing characteristics of temperature regimes and soil
behaviour.
“Field monitoring is key to understanding natural
processes. We hope to create a model of erosion that
can be applied to other areas where solifluction, thawing
and wave transport of eroded sediments contribute to
the degradation of permafrost,” said Prof. Brouchkov.
Dr. Anatoly Sinitsyn, a post doc researcher at SAMCoT
who participated in the Varandey expedition, holds
similar views. “Field work on Varanday is highly impor
tant for SAMCoT as a research project. This research
site is unique due to the significant amount of data avail
able and the precise character of our investigations. The
researchers set out with their goal to create a robust
model that monitors and evaluates erosion processes in
this area,” he said.