312
Land-Ocean Systems in the Siberian Arctic: Dynamics and History
considerably high rates of peat accumulation (Popov et aI., 1985). Icing mounds are also found
among the cryogenic forms in valleys. Three small icing mounds (up to 20 m in diameter and
up to 1.5 m thick) were found in the main channel and in one bayou of the Krasnaja river
around the mouth of Zarnknutaja river. This phenomenon has not previously been observed in
the Byrranga mountains. The displays of cryomorphogenetic processes on the lake terraces
deserve special attention. The surface structure of the terrace exposures at 100-120 m a.s.l.,
described above, displays features of ancient permafrost. On the lower lake terrace, replacement
of ice-lodes by ground lodes was evident. At the same time, however, these features were not
visible on the smaller exposures of higher altitude terraces.
This leads to the conclusion that the cryomorphogenetic processes in the region developed
following a basic pattern. In combination with non-cryogenic processes, the general ecosystem
development can be regarded as a uniform, dynamic series, based on the general tendency of
historical relief development. At different stages of this series, various factors prevail in
determining the ecosystem: geomorphologic, cryogenic or biotic (vegetation).
Climatic conditions and hydrology
Peculiarities of the climate and hydrology of the region were preliminary reported severral times
(Berichte zur Polarforschung, #175, 1995; #211, 1996). The region's climate is Arctic
continental. The average air temperature in January is about -40 DC and in July ranges from 5 to
7 Dc. In some years (for example, in 1993) summer temperature do not even exceed + 5 Dc.
Nevertheless, ground surface temperature under the influence of solar radiation can exceed +
30 DC on clear days (field observation by the authors). The annual precipitation reaches about
250 mm , with the maximum occurring in summer. A feature of the lake basin's microclimate
are strong northern winds, passing here as arctic air masses move through the Glavnaja Range
of the Byrranga mountains.
In addition to the main water reservoir, there are 5 lakes in intermountain kettles (Krasnoje,
Nagornoje and 3 unnamed) and about 10 shallow thaw and bayou lakes in the depression of the
Krasnaja river's alluvial plain. The largest rivers in the region are the Krasnaja (about 30 km
length) and the Mramornaja. The density of the stream network is rather significant.
Vegetation
In existing schemes of geobotanical subdivision (Alexandrova, 1977; Czernov and Matveeva,
1979), the Byrranga mountains are treated as a border between typical (subarctic) and arctic
tundra conditions and are not recognized as a special territorial unit. However, taking into
account the mountainous character of the territory, as well as the sharp differences in its
vegetation (in particular, in its community species compositions) compared to that of the
surrounding tundra of the Taimyr plain, some evidence of altitude zonation and the specific
character of the local flora, there is a strong basis for the recognition of this mountain massif as
an independent geobotanical province (by analogy with the previously accepted Ural-Paichoi,
Charaulach and other provinces of alpine tundra, Alexandrova, 1977) or as a geobotanical
district (Andreev, Alexandrova, 1981). Additional support for this proposition is provided by
the sheer variety of communities present in the Byrranga range, from cold mountain deserts to
extrazonal dwarf birch brushwood on the southern macros lopes of mountains, and by the
prevalence of specific alpine tundra flora and the significantly richer floristic composition in
comparison with the Taimyr plain. Plant populations present in the range are significantly
removed from their main area of distribution (Eremogone formosa, Papaver leucotrichum, Poa
jordalii et al.), which serves as interesting material for the historical analysis of the floral
development of this region. The investigation of the region's flora included 263 taxa of vascular
plants and is rather typical of the Byrranga mountains. The circumpolar species of the
Land-Ocean Systems in the Siberian Arctic: Dynamics and History
considerably high rates of peat accumulation (Popov et aI., 1985). Icing mounds are also found
among the cryogenic forms in valleys. Three small icing mounds (up to 20 m in diameter and
up to 1.5 m thick) were found in the main channel and in one bayou of the Krasnaja river
around the mouth of Zarnknutaja river. This phenomenon has not previously been observed in
the Byrranga mountains. The displays of cryomorphogenetic processes on the lake terraces
deserve special attention. The surface structure of the terrace exposures at 100-120 m a.s.l.,
described above, displays features of ancient permafrost. On the lower lake terrace, replacement
of ice-lodes by ground lodes was evident. At the same time, however, these features were not
visible on the smaller exposures of higher altitude terraces.
This leads to the conclusion that the cryomorphogenetic processes in the region developed
following a basic pattern. In combination with non-cryogenic processes, the general ecosystem
development can be regarded as a uniform, dynamic series, based on the general tendency of
historical relief development. At different stages of this series, various factors prevail in
determining the ecosystem: geomorphologic, cryogenic or biotic (vegetation).
Climatic conditions and hydrology
Peculiarities of the climate and hydrology of the region were preliminary reported severral times
(Berichte zur Polarforschung, #175, 1995; #211, 1996). The region's climate is Arctic
continental. The average air temperature in January is about -40 DC and in July ranges from 5 to
7 Dc. In some years (for example, in 1993) summer temperature do not even exceed + 5 Dc.
Nevertheless, ground surface temperature under the influence of solar radiation can exceed +
30 DC on clear days (field observation by the authors). The annual precipitation reaches about
250 mm , with the maximum occurring in summer. A feature of the lake basin's microclimate
are strong northern winds, passing here as arctic air masses move through the Glavnaja Range
of the Byrranga mountains.
In addition to the main water reservoir, there are 5 lakes in intermountain kettles (Krasnoje,
Nagornoje and 3 unnamed) and about 10 shallow thaw and bayou lakes in the depression of the
Krasnaja river's alluvial plain. The largest rivers in the region are the Krasnaja (about 30 km
length) and the Mramornaja. The density of the stream network is rather significant.
Vegetation
In existing schemes of geobotanical subdivision (Alexandrova, 1977; Czernov and Matveeva,
1979), the Byrranga mountains are treated as a border between typical (subarctic) and arctic
tundra conditions and are not recognized as a special territorial unit. However, taking into
account the mountainous character of the territory, as well as the sharp differences in its
vegetation (in particular, in its community species compositions) compared to that of the
surrounding tundra of the Taimyr plain, some evidence of altitude zonation and the specific
character of the local flora, there is a strong basis for the recognition of this mountain massif as
an independent geobotanical province (by analogy with the previously accepted Ural-Paichoi,
Charaulach and other provinces of alpine tundra, Alexandrova, 1977) or as a geobotanical
district (Andreev, Alexandrova, 1981). Additional support for this proposition is provided by
the sheer variety of communities present in the Byrranga range, from cold mountain deserts to
extrazonal dwarf birch brushwood on the southern macros lopes of mountains, and by the
prevalence of specific alpine tundra flora and the significantly richer floristic composition in
comparison with the Taimyr plain. Plant populations present in the range are significantly
removed from their main area of distribution (Eremogone formosa, Papaver leucotrichum, Poa
jordalii et al.), which serves as interesting material for the historical analysis of the floral
development of this region. The investigation of the region's flora included 263 taxa of vascular
plants and is rather typical of the Byrranga mountains. The circumpolar species of the