Geographical Patterns of Soil Distribution in the Permafrost Northeast of the Pechora Lowland

Regional geographic patterns of distribution of permafrost-affected soils in dependence on the bioclimatic, geocryological, and lithological conditions are described for the eastern sector of the Pechora Lowland. The spatial distribution of permafrost-affected soils is considered within the framework of the patterns of permafrost formation and degradation in relation to climate and ecosystems suggested by Y. Shur and M. Jorgenson. Permafrost-affected, mainly gleyed soils underlain by climate-driven permafrost are widespread in the northern part of the region, where modern climatic conditions are favorable for the preservation of permafrost in mineral parent rocks. The share of these soils that are weakly resistant to thawing upon climate warming gradually decreases to the south. A larger part (up to 70%) of gleyed permafrost-affected soils is found in the area of climate-driven, ecosystem-modified permafrost. The organic horizons of these soils are 10 to 50 cm in thickness and provide ecosystem protection of permafrost from thawing. Peat permafrost-affected soils with ecosystem-protected permafrost are most widespread (~20%) in the central part of the tundra–taiga ecotone, which is mainly specified by a combination of modern climate and paleogeographic conditions. Climate changes predicted for subarctic plains in the northeast of European Russia will lead to only partial thawing of permafrost thus affecting permafrost soils with climate-driven permafrost.