Hydrogeology of Reclaimed Floodplain in a Permafrost Area, Yakutsk, Russia
A study was performed to evaluate the current permafrost and groundwater conditions in the reclaimed floodplain of the Lena, one of the largest rivers in the permafrost zone. Data from ongoing hydrogeological monitoring were compared with earlier observations conducted during the reclamation process...
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doaj-b930eb9a693a4017b495508e820617572020-11-25T02:57:31ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632020-05-011019219210.3390/geosciences10050192Hydrogeology of Reclaimed Floodplain in a Permafrost Area, Yakutsk, RussiaNadezhda Pavlova0Vasily Ogonerov1Marina Danzanova2Vladimir Popov3Melnikov Permafrost Institute of the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Merzlotnaya St., 36, 677010 Yakutsk, RussiaMelnikov Permafrost Institute of the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Merzlotnaya St., 36, 677010 Yakutsk, RussiaMelnikov Permafrost Institute of the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Merzlotnaya St., 36, 677010 Yakutsk, RussiaAmmosov North-Eastern Federal University in Yakutsk, Belinskogo St., 58, 677000 Yakutsk, RussiaA study was performed to evaluate the current permafrost and groundwater conditions in the reclaimed floodplain of the Lena, one of the largest rivers in the permafrost zone. Data from ongoing hydrogeological monitoring were compared with earlier observations conducted during the reclamation process. The results demonstrate that the placement of dredged fill led to the development of suprapermafrost thaw zones (taliks). The anthropogenic taliks vary in thickness from 10 to 15 m in areas of buried bars to 20 m or more in the former locations of oxbow lakes. There is similarity in seasonal groundwater fluctuation patterns and response to river stage variations across the study area suggesting that a continuous aquifer connected to surface water. The connection with the river is most evident during the spring flood period. Two mechanisms of ground saturation are identified during this time. One is lateral seepage flow from the Lena River into the fill mass. The zone of its influence is limited to 150–170 m from the stream. The second is hydraulic pressure transmission from the river through the subchannel flow connected with the anthropogenic suprapermafrost aquifer. Its influence extends across the entire fill area. Continuous water movement at the base of the fill prevents permafrost aggradation from below. The study results should be taken into account when developing and implementing design and construction standards for engineering structures in the reclaimed floodplains of the permafrost zone.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/10/5/192floodplainhydraulic fillwater-bearing talikpermafrostgroundwatermonitoring |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Nadezhda Pavlova Vasily Ogonerov Marina Danzanova Vladimir Popov |
spellingShingle |
Nadezhda Pavlova Vasily Ogonerov Marina Danzanova Vladimir Popov Hydrogeology of Reclaimed Floodplain in a Permafrost Area, Yakutsk, Russia Geosciences floodplain hydraulic fill water-bearing talik permafrost groundwater monitoring |
author_facet |
Nadezhda Pavlova Vasily Ogonerov Marina Danzanova Vladimir Popov |
author_sort |
Nadezhda Pavlova |
title |
Hydrogeology of Reclaimed Floodplain in a Permafrost Area, Yakutsk, Russia |
title_short |
Hydrogeology of Reclaimed Floodplain in a Permafrost Area, Yakutsk, Russia |
title_full |
Hydrogeology of Reclaimed Floodplain in a Permafrost Area, Yakutsk, Russia |
title_fullStr |
Hydrogeology of Reclaimed Floodplain in a Permafrost Area, Yakutsk, Russia |
title_full_unstemmed |
Hydrogeology of Reclaimed Floodplain in a Permafrost Area, Yakutsk, Russia |
title_sort |
hydrogeology of reclaimed floodplain in a permafrost area, yakutsk, russia |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Geosciences |
issn |
2076-3263 |
publishDate |
2020-05-01 |
description |
A study was performed to evaluate the current permafrost and groundwater conditions in the reclaimed floodplain of the Lena, one of the largest rivers in the permafrost zone. Data from ongoing hydrogeological monitoring were compared with earlier observations conducted during the reclamation process. The results demonstrate that the placement of dredged fill led to the development of suprapermafrost thaw zones (taliks). The anthropogenic taliks vary in thickness from 10 to 15 m in areas of buried bars to 20 m or more in the former locations of oxbow lakes. There is similarity in seasonal groundwater fluctuation patterns and response to river stage variations across the study area suggesting that a continuous aquifer connected to surface water. The connection with the river is most evident during the spring flood period. Two mechanisms of ground saturation are identified during this time. One is lateral seepage flow from the Lena River into the fill mass. The zone of its influence is limited to 150–170 m from the stream. The second is hydraulic pressure transmission from the river through the subchannel flow connected with the anthropogenic suprapermafrost aquifer. Its influence extends across the entire fill area. Continuous water movement at the base of the fill prevents permafrost aggradation from below. The study results should be taken into account when developing and implementing design and construction standards for engineering structures in the reclaimed floodplains of the permafrost zone. |
topic |
floodplain hydraulic fill water-bearing talik permafrost groundwater monitoring |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/10/5/192 |
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AT nadezhdapavlova hydrogeologyofreclaimedfloodplaininapermafrostareayakutskrussia AT vasilyogonerov hydrogeologyofreclaimedfloodplaininapermafrostareayakutskrussia AT marinadanzanova hydrogeologyofreclaimedfloodplaininapermafrostareayakutskrussia AT vladimirpopov hydrogeologyofreclaimedfloodplaininapermafrostareayakutskrussia |
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