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Specific Features of Soil Formation in Alas Landscapes of the Cryolithozone

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Abstract

Thermokarst elements of topography—alases—are widely spread in areas of permafrost rocks and are represented by depressions of various sizes and shapes on the surface of plains. It has been found that their formation is related to degradation of the ice complex and subsidence and subsequent redeposition of the surrounding rocks. Complex polycyclic soil-forming rocks consisting of layers of mineral and organic lacustrine-boggy deposits are formed in thermokarst depressions. This long-term process is related to the rhythmic functioning of unique intrazonal landscapes. Alases occur in different natural zones (forest–steppe, boreal forests, tundra), as well as in river valleys, in the mountains, or on plateaus. The genesis, structure, and functioning of alases are not comprehensively studied and require the attention of researchers.

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Funding

This work was prepared within the project of the Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, topic no. 0376-2019-0006 and registration no. AAAA-A19-119040990002-1 and Russian Foundation for Basic Research grant no. 19-29-05151 .

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  1. Institute of Biological Problems of the Cryolithozone, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk, Russia

    R. V. Desyatkin

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Correspondence to R. V. Desyatkin.

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Translated by I. Bel’chenko

Roman Vasil’evich Desyatkin, Dr. Sci. (Biol.), is Chief Researcher of the Institute of Biological Problems of the Cryolithozone, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences.

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Desyatkin, R.V. Specific Features of Soil Formation in Alas Landscapes of the Cryolithozone. Her. Russ. Acad. Sci. 90, 79–87 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1019331620010153

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