RADIOCARBON DATES OF EVOLUTION CYCLES OF THERMOKARST LAKES ON THE KOLYMA LOWLAND

Abstract

Lacustrine thermokarst plays an exclusively important role in the evolution of periglacial lithogenesis and relief formation on the Kolyma Lowland, which is located along the East Siberian Sea and the western Yana–Indigirka Lowland. The multicomponent process of heat exchange upsets thermodynamic equilibrium, development of the deep-seated thermokarst, and migration of lakes on the lowland surface. The migration of lakes results in restoration of thermodynamic equilibrium on areas previously occupied by the lakes and revival of underground ice formation. Polycyclic evolution of lakes is related to their migration. Lacustrine–thermokarst erosion of the high surface of the lowland (edoma), which is irregular in terms of duration in different areas, leads to the formation of alasses (depressions in pergelisoil) of several levels.