Universal Journal of Geoscience Vol. 2(1), pp. 7 - 17
DOI: 10.13189/ujg.2014.020102
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Permafrost (Cryolithozone) of the Russian Arctic Shelf

N.A. Shpolyanskaya ^*
Moscow, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119992 Moscow, Russia

ABSTRACT

The problem of age nonuniformity of the permafrost of the Russian Arctic shelf is considered in this paper. It is assumed that recent permafrost exists on the present-day shelf in addition to the cryolithozone, which was formed under subaerial conditions during shelf draining in the Late Pleistocene, was flooded during the subsequent transgression, and exists as a relic zone. It is considered whether permafrost can be formed immediately under submarine conditions. The mechanism of bottom soil freezing and ice formation, based on constant natural transformations in seabed sediments, is proposed. The proposed mechanism is confirmed by analyzing certain sections of the bottom sediments of shelf and of the Pleistocene marine plains (ancient shelves) composed of dislocated sequences with massive ice beds. On the basis of a ground massive ice genetic analysis different geological development as well as different transgressive and regressive regime of the Russian Arctic western and eastern sectors was revealed. The glacial cover limited distribution in the Russian North and its absence on the Russian Arctic and Subarctic plains to the East of the Kanin Peninsula were noted.

KEYWORDS
Massive Ground Ice, Sheet Ice, Polygonal Wedge Ice, Subsea Permafrost Zone, Quaternary History of the Russian Arctic Permafrost

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] N.A. Shpolyanskaya , "Permafrost (Cryolithozone) of the Russian Arctic Shelf," Universal Journal of Geoscience, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 7 - 17, 2014. DOI: 10.13189/ujg.2014.020102.

(b). APA Format:
N.A. Shpolyanskaya (2014). Permafrost (Cryolithozone) of the Russian Arctic Shelf. Universal Journal of Geoscience, 2(1), 7 - 17. DOI: 10.13189/ujg.2014.020102.