ИСТИНА

Chukotka is the remote Arctic region, highly influenced by both the Arctic and the Pacific circulations. This is area of continuous permafrost distribution, specific cryogenic phenomena distribution and wide variety of tundra landscapes development. Both global climate and environmental changes are observed within Chukotka. According to data from local weather stations (Uelen and Provideniya) there was a slight annual air temperature rise recently by 0.09-0.17°C per decade during 1929-2009. These changes cause environmental and permafrost conditions transformations and lead to increasing of natural and technogenic instability and threats. Despite the remote location, permafrost observations in Chukotka established in 1935 and by this time, there are plenty of various data sets on permafrost fundamental and applied studies preserved. Currently two permafrost monitoring areas are organized in Chukotka: Anadyr vicinities and Eastern Chukotka. Anadyr monitoring site is operated both by North-Eastern Integrated Scientific Research Institute of Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (NEISRI FEB RAS) and by Melnikov Permafrost Institute (Yakutsk). Complex permafrost studies are conducting here. Active layer monitoring was organized within Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring program (CALM). There are 3 CALM sites established in 1994 and equipped with temperature data loggers. Three 10-meters depth boreholes near Anadyr are operating for monitoring of thermal state of permafrost; more than 20 preserved but not operated boreholes with depths up to 100 meters are distributed around Anadyr area as well as within the city. Eastern Chukotka is the easternmost region of Eurasia, situated in the Western Hemisphere. Despite the lack of permafrost thermal regime measurements, there are 2 CALM sites are operated since 2000. Active layer thickness studies here combined with temperature regime (5-100 cm depth), thaw settlement, carbon flux, soil moisture, solar radiation and vegetation projective cover measurements. Studies of coastal erosion are also established in this region: field observations are conducted since 2012, but based on archival data coastal erosion dynamics can be traced since 1967 in particular locations. Permafrost monitoring sites in Chukotka are established for facilitating relevant studies and filling the gaps in global permafrost and environmental monitoring systems. Authors are very welcome for international scientific collaboration and further development of permafrost studies in this region.