Abstract
Long-term monitoring of permafrost in Mongolia showed that permafrost under the influence of climate warming is ubiquitously degrading at different rates. The average trends of the increases in active layer thickness and mean annual ground temperature are 5–20 cm and 0.1–0.3°C per decade, respectively. These trends of the last 15–20 years are higher than those of the previous 15–20 years. Furthermore, the degradation of permafrost in the Hövsgöl mountainous region is more intense than in the Hentei and Hangai mountainous regions. Experimental results have shown that vegetation cover, especially moss cover, forest, and dense grass, are natural insulators that maintain lower soil temperature and higher soil moisture by lowering the evaporation rate. Hence, intense grazing may accelerate the degradation of permafrost. Since permafrost plays an important role in the maintenance of ecosystems in this region, the recent degradation of permafrost may lead to significant changes in ecosystems, especially in the soil thermal state and moisture content.
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Acknowledgements
Within the framework of the CALM project, the University of Cinne (Ken Kenith 2000), and the University of Delaware (F. Nelson and I. Shiklomanov 2003–2007) provided financial support and data loggers for the 2000 and 2003–2007 field trips for monitoring work. Furthermore, within the framework of the GTN-P Project, the University of Alaska Fairbanks (K. Yoshikawa and V. Romanovsky) provided financial support and 20 HOBO U12 data loggers for the 2008 field trip for monitoring. This financial support and the necessary devices within the framework of the international CALM and GTN-P projects were helpful to the researchers who financed the preparation of boreholes and permafrost monitoring work in Mongolia. Monitoring of permafrost and experimental studies in the Hövsgöl region was supported by the GEF/WB Hövsgöl Project. In addition, the monitoring of permafrost in the Terelj and Nalayh sites were conducted within the framework of the IORGC project.
We would also like to thank Drs. Alain Plante and Marinus J.A. Werger for their help in improving the manuscript.
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Sharkhuu, N., Sharkhuu, A. (2012). Effects of Climate Warming and Vegetation Cover on Permafrost of Mongolia. In: Werger, M., van Staalduinen, M. (eds) Eurasian Steppes. Ecological Problems and Livelihoods in a Changing World. Plant and Vegetation, vol 6. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-3886-7_17
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