Coastal Dynamics, Permafrost, and Lithology of the Sharapov Shar Bay Shores, Kara Sea

Bogatova, D.; Kazhukalo G.; Baranskaya A.; Novikova, A.; Ogorodov, S., and Maslakov, A., 2024. Coastal dynamics, permafrost, and lithology of the Sharapov Shar Bay shores, Kara Sea In: Phillips, M.R.; Al-Naemi, S., and Duarte, C.M. (eds.), Coastlines under Global Change: Proceedings from the International Coastal Symposium (ICS) 2024 (Doha, Qatar). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 113, pp. 753-757. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. The Arctic coast is a very sensitive system due to the interaction of the sea with the frozen coast under ongoing climate change. Our investigations were carried out within the northwestern part of the Yamal peninsula (Russia), Kara Sea. This region features continuous permafrost with annual ground temperatures ranging from -1.5°C to -6°C. Five key sites were selected for investigation. Four of them are located on the laida (low surface up to 1-2 m above the sea) with a high bluff (terrace) at a longer distance from the sea. Coastal dynamics for these four key areas were different. The northern site is stable, and no retreat was observed on either the laida or the terrace. Similar rates of retreat of about 0.4-0.6 m/year at sections of different height composed by sandy loams at key sites 2-5 reveal the significance of sediment composition as one of the factors of coastal erosion. A comparison of all the obtained coastal retreat rates shows that the presence of massive ice contributes to more rapid coastal destruction. In recent years, some areas of Sharapov Shar coast were unstable, although historical data shows their previously stable state, implying recent activation of coastal processes.