Changes of Soil Properties along the Altitudinal Gradients in Subarctic Mountain Landscapes of Putorana Plateau, Central Siberia

Changes of soil properties along elevational gradients were studied in a less accessible and explored forest-tundra ecotone in the NW part of Central Siberia. Data on soil physical and chemical properties were collected along three horizontal transects at an elevation of 100–420 m a.s.l., at two localities differing in the slope angle. At each transect, five soil pits were excavated to a depth of 0.3–0.4 m. Soil samples were taken from the depths of 0–0.1 m, 0.1–0.2 m, and 0.2–0.3 m. The results showed a pronounced effect of slope angle on the pattern of soil properties along the elevational gradient. At the locality with a gentle slope, soils exhibited 2.5 times larger thickness of the surface organic layer (SOL), higher pH, and Na+ content, and lower C, N, Ald, and Fed concentration indicating slower pedogenic processes on this site. On the other hand, at the locality with a steeper slope, soil properties were better differentiated between transects situated along elevational gradient especially at the depths of 0.1–0.2 and 0.2–0.3 m. However, a clear positive or negative trend with the altitude was observed only for some soil characteristics, e.g., SOL, C, N, or Ald concentrations on the Lama location.

Evidence that modern fires may be unprecedented during the last 3400 years in permafrost zone of central Siberia, Russia

Recent climate change in Siberia is increasing the probability of dangerous forest fires. The development of effective measures to mitigate and prevent fires is impossible without an understanding of long-term fire dynamics. This paper presents the first multi-site palaeo-fire reconstruction based on macroscopic charcoal data from peat and lake sediment cores located in different landscapes across the permafrost area of Central Siberia. The obtained results show similar temporal patterns of charcoal accumulation rates in the cores under study, and near synchronous changes in fire regimes. The paleo-fire record revealed moderate biomass burning between 3.4 and 2.6 ka BP, followed by the period of lower burning occurring from 2.6 to 1.7 ka BP that coincided with regional climate cooling and moistening. Minimal fire activity was also observed during the Little Ice Age (0.7 – 0.25 ka BP). Fire frequencies increased during the interval from 1.7 to 0.7 ka BP and appears to be partly synchronous with climate warming during the Medieval Climate Anomaly. Regional reconstructions of long-term fire history show that recent fires are unprecedented during the late Holocene, with modern high biomass burning lying outside millennial and centennial variability of the last 3400 years.

Impact of the Scandinavian pattern on long-lived cold surges over the South China Sea

This study investigates the influence of the Scandinavian (SCA) pattern on long-lived cold surges over the South China Sea (SCS). The results show that, different from the short-lived ones, the majority of long-lived cold surges over the SCS are preceded by a negative phase of quasi-stationary SCA pattern in the extratropics, which is characterized as a primary cyclonic center over the Scandinavian Peninsula and two anticyclonic ones over North Atlantic and central Siberia. This connection is mainly conducted through a continuous amplification of the high pressure anomalies over East Asia. On the other hand, the SCA-related anomalies also reveal identical responses as an increase in sea level pressure over East Asia and northerly flows over the SCS. Besides, the SCA pattern may influence the long-lived cold surges over the SCS by facilitating blocking occurrence through the extensive and quasi-stationary anticyclone over central Siberia. The present results have an implication for the extended weather forecast: The long-lasting circulation anomalies, such as the SCA pattern, can affect long-lasting weather phenomena in the regions which are located remotely in both the zonal and meridional directions, such as long-lived cold surges over the SCS.

Typology of number systems in languages of Western and Central Siberia

This paper investigates the linguistic expression of number in seven languages from Western and Central Siberia. In a first step the number system of each language is described in detail, and afterwards the most relevant convergences and divergences of the languages are dealt with. Three particularly interesting phenomena are discussed in more detail: First, it is shown that the concept of general number, denoting noun forms underspecified for number, is able to account for a range of related phenomena (unmarked noun forms after numerals, nouns denoting paired objects). Second, singulatives in Selkup, Ket and partly Eastern Khanty are analyzed, whereby it is argued that their similar morphosyntactic and grammaticalization patterns allow for analyzing them as a contact phenomenon. Third, two splits on the animacy hierarchy between the first and second person in Dolgan as well as Chulym Turkic are presented. Finally, the results are evaluated against a broader areal-typological background, whereby it is shown that the category of number does not support any larger areal groupings within Western and Central Siberia, but that the analyzed languages rather adhere to patterns of number marking present all over Northern Eurasia.

Impact of October Snow Cover in Central Siberia on the Following Spring Extreme Precipitation Frequency in Southern China

Spring extreme precipitation poses great challenges to agricultural production and economic development in southern China. From the perspective of prediction, the relationship between spring extreme precipitation frequency (SEPF) in southern China and preceding autumn snow cover over Eurasia is investigated. The results indicate that the southern China SEPF is significantly correlated with October snow cover in central Siberia. Corresponding to reduced October snow cover, the vertical propagation of planetary waves is suppressed, which leads to a strengthened stratospheric polar vortex from October to following December. The signal of the anomalous stratospheric polar vortex propagates downward to the surface, contributing to a positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)-like pattern in December. The southwesterlies in the northern Eurasia-eastern Arctic associated with the positive NAO induce sea ice loss in the Barents–Kara seas in January–February, which then tends to enhance the vertical propagation of planetary waves by constructively interfering with the climatological wavenumber-1 component. Therefore, the stratosphere polar vortex is significantly weakened in spring, which further contributes to a negative Arctic Oscillation (AO)-like pattern in the troposphere. The negative spring AO is related to an anomalous cyclone in East Asia, which induces upward motion and moisture convergence in southern China, consequently providing favorable dynamic and moisture conditions for extreme precipitation in the region. The snow cover signal in central Siberia in the preceding October provides a potential source for the prediction of spring extreme precipitation variability in southern China with two seasons in advance.

Productivity of the crop rotation link depending on the technology of development of fallow lands in the south of Central Siberia

Relevance. According to the conducted studies, it was found that the disadvantages of steppe nature management include water erosion, deflation and other adverse phenomena. Similar processes are taking place in Siberia. At present, the redevelopment of deposits is beginning and soil degradation is again manifested in the steppe regions of Khakassia. For the rational and efficient use of land resources, it is necessary to develop a technology for processing soil deposits in the arid steppe zone of the south of Central Siberia.Methods. The study of the efficiency of soil cultivation technologies for the erosional agroecological group of fallow lands was carried out in the arid steppe agrolandscape region of the Republic of Khakassia, located in the south of Central Siberia. Research for four years was carried out in the link of fodder crop rotation: a long-term (20–25 years) cereal-forb fallow — oats (corn) for green mass by the method of B.A. Dospekhov. When performing the work, statistical and graphical methods were used.Results. It is established that malicious perennial grasses and juvenile weeds grow on long-term fallow lands (20–25 years). High efficiency of complex application of herbicides of continuous action (Tornado 500, Octopus Extra) and intensive tillage was revealed. Tillage of a long-term deposit to a depth of 18–20 cm, disking, fine flatcutting treatment and spraying with herbicide reduces the number of perennial weeds by 2 times more compared to technologies, that include small treatments and herbicide application. In the arid steppe zone, the technology with tillage of a long-term deposit to a depth of 18–20 cm increases the productivity of the feed crop rotation link by an average of 25.3–33.7% compared to technological operations involving small-scale processing (12–14 cm and 14–16 cm).

Carbon stock in litter of middle taiga forest ecosystems of Central Siberia

Litter plays an important role in the carbon cycle of forest ecosystems incorporating significant amount of carbon as a result of annual partial die-off of the biomass and releasing it during complex multistage processes of organic matter decomposition. The balance of these processes in the forests of permafrost zone significantly shifts towards the accumulation of dead organic matter. That makes the assessment of litter stock in these ecosystems particularly relevant, especially in relation to the predicted consequences of climate change in the study region. On the territory of middle taiga of Central Siberia, 14 sampling plots were established in the various landforms (slopes of different exposition, lowlands and uplands). The carbon stock in litter of the main forest types of the studied area varied from 0.47 to 4.46 kgC/m2. Also, the paper considers composition of litter accumulated in these ecosystems, including the ratio between fresh litterfall, fermented and humified plant residues, and dead roots. Our results demonstrated that fermented plant residues prevailed in the litter composition in most types of studied forest ecosystems due to specificity of hydrothermal regime and quality of litterfall. The results obtained might be applied to refine the carbon budget of Siberian forests.