The impact of large forest fires on frozen pale soils in the Lena-Vilyui watershed

The catastrophic wildfires that occurred in Central Yakutia in 2021 resulted in extensive forest destruction, leading to the complete incineration of significant forested areas. This devastation has caused the loss of tree stands and the degradation of forest litter, as well as the upper organic layers of the soil. Consequently, there has been a substantial alteration in the water-temperature regime of permafrost soils, which are formed under permafrost conditions. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of these fires on the morphological, physical, and chemical characteristics of pale soils during the initial years following the fire event, specifically after the destruction of the tree stand and the combustion of the litter and organic soil layers. This research primarily focuses on pale, slightly solodized soils located within the larch forests of the Lena-Vilyui watershed. This research presents comprehensive insights into vegetation and the morphogenetic characteristics of soil profiles, alongside the parameterization of various soil properties, including field moisture, humus content, loss on ignition, , reactions of the soil environment, exchangeable base quantities, and granulometric composition. The findings indicate that the deposition of combustion byproducts, specifically in the form of ash, results in soil alkalization, which is associated with a marked decrease in organic carbon levels within the surface strata. Notably, the morphological characteristics of soils in the control area exhibit significant differences compared to those in the burned region; a thin pyrogenic layer with minimal screening effects has developed in the burned region, soil mixing processes have become more pronounced, and the natural horizontal boundaries of soil horizons have been disrupted. The degradation of heat-insulating ground cover and organic matter contributes to substantial soil heating, leading to elevated soil mass temperatures and an extended seasonal thaw. The thawing of upper permafrost layers and the release of previously sequestered moisture result in soil saturation, which, upon winter freeze, triggers cryoturbation. In contrast, soils that have not experienced fire exhibit only a weak expression of permafrost mixing within the soil profile. Furthermore, the temporary waterlogging of poorly drained soils in the initial years post-fire exacerbates tree.