Mongolia, Climatic change, Permafrost

The permafrost area range in Mongolia is almost 1 million km2, and can be easily divided into latitudinal and altitudinal types. The permafrost environment has changed markedly several times in central Asia. The ice wedges and permafrost formed during the Late Pleistocene are still present in central Mongolia. The lower limit of altitudinal permafrost in western Mongolia has elevated only a little (near 300m) since the last glaciation maximum. Compared with that in northern Europe and North America, latitudinal permafrost in northeastern Mongolia is less sensitive to local warming, but altitudinal permafrost, especially permafrost in the Altai and Khangai and partially also in Khentii Mountains, is sensitive to climate warming. Since the middle of the 20th century, significant permafrost degradation has occurred in Mongolia.

The permafrost area range in Mongolia is almost 1 million km2, and can be easily divided into latitudinal and altitudinal types. The permafrost environment has changed markedly several times in central Asia. The ice wedges and permafrost formed during the Late Pleistocene are still present in central Mongolia. The lower limit of altitudinal permafrost in western Mongolia has elevated only a little (near 300m) since the last glaciation maximum. Compared with that in northern Europe and North America, latitudinal permafrost in northeastern Mongolia is less sensitive to local warming, but altitudinal permafrost, especially permafrost in the Altai and Khangai and partially also in Khentii Mountains, is sensitive to climate warming. Since the middle of the 20th century, significant permafrost degradation has occurred in Mongolia.