Detecting and Mapping Gas Emission Craters on the Yamal and Gydan Peninsulas, Western Siberia

Abstract

Rapid climate warming at northern high latitudes is driving geomorphic changes across the permafrost zone. In the Yamal and Gydan peninsulas in western Siberia, subterranean accumulation of methane beneath or within ice-rich permafrost can create mounds at the land surface. Once over-pressurized by methane, these mounds can explode and eject frozen ground, forming a gas emission crater (GEC). While GECs pose a hazard to human populations and infrastructure, only a small number have been identified in the Yamal and Gydan peninsulas, where the regional distribution and frequency of GECs and other types of land surface change are relatively unconstrained. To understand the distribution of landscape change within 327,000 km2 of the Yamal-Gydan region, we developed a semi-automated multivariate change detection algorithm using satellite-derived surface reflectance, elevation, and water extent in the Google Earth Engine cloud computing platform. We found that 5% of the landscape changed from 1984 to 2017. The algorithm detected all seven GECs reported in the scientific literature and three new GEC-like features, and further revealed that retrogressive thaw slumps were more abundant than GECs. Our methodology can be refined to detect and better understand diverse types of land surface change and potentially mitigate risks across the northern permafrost zone.

Catastrophic gas blowout in 2020 on the Yamal Peninsula in the Arctic. Results of comprehensive analysis of aerospace RS data

“…Разностные ЦМР позволяют в полуавтоматическом режиме выявлять изменения в рельефе местности, связанные с деградацией ММП и особенно с формированием кратеров при катастрофических выбросах газа [20]. Нам представляется, что этот подход надежнее, чем предложенный в [29]. Однако очевидно, что наилучший результат достижим на основе комплексирования разных технологий.…”

Radon Flux Density In Conditions Of Permafrost Thawing: Simulation Experiment

“…Over the past few years, the problem of climate change has grown to the most pressing issue in the world. As the arctic regions warm twice the global rate, changes in the relief, vegetation, fauna and property intensify (Zolkos et al 2021). Rapid thawing leads to distinct ground collapse and high topographical relief, leading to thermokarst wetlands that further accelerate thawing by increasing talik formation and wetland development (Farquaharson et al 2019).…”

Radon Hazard In Permafrost Conditions: Current State Of Research

“…At present, the problem of rapid warming in northern latitudes (>60º N) is quite acute, particularly for landscape changes, vegetation productivity, and ground subsidence or thawing of permafrost soils. Such changes lead to consequences for the population, infrastructure and the ecosystem as a whole (Zolkos et al 2021). At the same time, the fact remains undeniable that climate warming trends over the past hundreds of years will continue in the future in accordance with the 5th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2014).…”