西藏高原达则错湖泊铀富集特征

达则错位于班怒构造带的次级盆地中,湖水最深为36 m,平均深度为20.8 m。湖表水体矿化度17.27~20.27 g/L,平均为19.46 g/L,水化学类型为(CO₃+HCO₃)·SO₄-Na型,属弱度碳酸盐型咸水湖;在垂向上,由浅及深矿化度略有增加,水化学类型不变。湖表水体铀浓度264~324μg/L,平均铀浓度为286μg/L,8 m、18 m和28 m深度铀浓度平均值分别为288μg/L、290μg/L和300μg/L。湖底沉积物铀含量为2.31~4.08μg/g,平均铀含量为3.16μg/g,略高于我国东海大陆架海底沉积物的铀含量。达则错湖水的铀元素来自于周边岩体和地层,通过河水迁移到湖泊中。在河口混合带,铀酰离子部分吸附于悬浮物上,到湖区以碳酸铀酰的形式存在于水体中,沉淀于湖底的悬浮物铀含量没有明显增加。     

Evidence of ameliorated Middle Weichselian climate and sub‐arctic environment in the western Baltic region: coring lake sediments at Klintholm,Møn,Denmark

Coring through glaciotectonically stacked Quaternary sediments situated below sea level on the island of Møn, Denmark, recovered a succession of interstadial sediments of Middle Weichselian age. Plant and animal remains including insects found in laminated sand and mud indicate deposition in a lake surrounded by dwarf shrubs, herbs, mosses and rare trees. The insect fauna indicates a mean July temperature of 8–12 °C, suggesting an arctic to sub‐arctic environment, while winter temperatures around ?8 to ?22 °C suggest periglacial conditions with permafrost. Luminescence dating of sediment samples gave ages from 48–29 ka, and radiocarbon dating indicates deposition of plant fragments between 45 and 36 ka BP. The fossil assemblage from Møn shows close resemblance to those from other sites with similar ages found in the vicinity of the western Baltic Basin.     

青藏高原中部2.8Ma以来的化学风化与环境演化的湖泊沉积记录

对采自青藏高原中部错鄂湖泊钻孔近200m以上深处、形成于2.8Ma以来的沉积岩岩芯中Sr,Rb,Zr含量变化及Rb/Sr,Zr/Rb比进行了研究,并结合其岩性、粒度、粘土矿物组成,分析了该地区2.8Ma来化学风化的相对强度和古环境演化过程。研究表明,2.8Ma来青藏高原中部的环境经历了3个演化阶段：在深约197－170m(2.8-2.5Ma)岩性段,低Sr含量,高Rb/Sr和Zr/Rb比揭示的是较弱的化学风化过程,反映了与当时强烈的高原隆升运动有关;在约170－38.5m（约2.5-0.8Ma)段,高Sr含量,低Rb/Sr和Zr/Rb比记录的是该流域较强的化学风化阶段,与高原在稳定期中部总体处于温湿或凉湿的环境下的结论吻合;在38.5-0m（约0.8-0Ma)段,总体Sr含量处于相对低值,Rb/Sr比相对较高,化学风化相对较弱,表明高原中部处于较寒冷的环境之中,高原整体已隆升到4000m以上。     

Detailed geochemical studies of a He-U lake anomaly in permafrost, Baker Lake Area, N.W.T.

A strong He-U anomaly, discovered in the Thelon basin of the N.W.T. during a regional U exploration program in 1981, was studied in detail in 1982. The anomaly is confined to a 3-km² lake situated 160 km northwest of Baker Lake. Lake bottom water and sediment samples taken in June through the ice on a 50 m × 50 m grid, were analyzed for a number of trace and minor elements.In the lake sediments He and U were highly anomalous and parallel the strong anomaly patterns of He observed in the water. Median and maximum values in the sediments were 57 ppm and 396 ppm U, and 296 nL/L and 13870 nL/L He. Regional medians were 4.3 ppm U and 50 nL/L He. Se and V in sediments gave weak but similar anomaly patterns to those observed for U and He.The anomaly is somewhat of an enigma. The unusually high U content indicates an oxidizing, hence, near surface, water regime, and the highly anomalous He flux into the lake and a thick cover of permafrost in the region indicate a very deep source where conditions are normally reducing, rendering U immobile.Coincident anomaly patterns and increasing concentrations with depth of minor and trace elements and gases in the lake water prove that groundwater is the source of the anomalies. Contoured element maps indicate that this groundwater enters the lake in at least four places.The fact that up to 35 ppb U, 6 ppm dissolved O₂ and virtually no Fe and Mn, were detected in lake waters above groundwater entry points indicates that the groundwaters were oxidizing with respect to these elements. This is indeed surprising because permafrost is believed to be about 300 m thick in the region; at such depths groundwaters are usually rich in Fe and void of U.The highly anomalous He in this lake indicates deep fractures which serve as conduits for mineralized water entering the lake from depth and creating a frost-free window in the permafrost. The fractures probably penetrate well into the basement for only major deep fractures are known to produce such strong He anomalies. The additional presence of anomalous U suggests U mineralization at depth.     

Lithology and late postglacial stratigraphy of bottom sediments in isolated basins of the White Sea coast exemplified by a small lake in the Chupa settlement area (Northern Karelia)

The complex lithological, geochemical, geochronological, and micropaleontological (diatoms, spores, pollen) investigations of stratified bottom sediments that constitute facies-variable sedimentary sequences in a small isolated lake located near the upper limit of the sea on the White Sea coast made it possible to define lithostratigraphic units (LSU) forming the complete sedimentary succession in deep parts of isolated basins. It is shown that stratigraphy of heterogeneous sequences is determined by two regional transgressive–regressive cycles in relative sea level fluctuations: alternating late Glacial and Holocene transgressions and regressions. The lower part of a clastogenic clayey–sandy–silty sequence successively composed of freshwater (LSU 1) and brackish-water (LSU 2) sediments of the ice-marginal basins and marine postglacial facies (LSU 3) was formed during the late Glacial glacioeustatic marine transgression. Its upper part formed in different isolated basins at different stages of the Holocene is represented depending on its altimetric position on the coastal slope by costal marine sediments (LSU 4) and facies of the partly isolated inlet (LSU 5). The organogenic sapropelic sequence, which overlies sediments of the marine basin and partly isolated bay, corresponds to lithostratigraphic units represented by Holocene sediments accumulated in the meromictic lake (LSU 6), onshore freshwater basin (LSU 7), and freshwater basin with elevated water mineralization (LSU 8) deposited during maximum development of Holocene transgression and lacustrine sediments (LSU 9) formed in coastal environments during terminal phases of the Holocene. The defined lithostratigraphic units differ from each other in lithological, micropaleontological, and geochemical features reflected in structural and textural properties of their sediments, their composition, inclusions, and composition of paleophytocoenoses and diatom assemblages.     

Construction of an evolutionary deglaciation model for the Irish midlands based on the integration of morphostratigraphic and geophysical data analyses

Alternative, established models for the deglaciation of the midlands of Ireland are tested against an interpretation of a suite of deglacial sediments covering an area of 600 km² in the east central midland area. Interpretation of the sediments is based on geomorphological mapping, lithostratigraphic characterization of exposures and geotechnical data supported by electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and ground penetrating radar (GPR). GPR depicted small‐scale sedimentological and deformational structures within low‐conductivity soft sediments, such as cross‐bedding, planar bedding, channel‐like features and faulting planes, and revealed the internal architecture of eskers, glaciodeltas, subaqueous fans and raised bogs. ERT data permitted the detection of depth to bedrock and the lithological characterization of unconsolidated sediments. The ten sites presented were surveyed by traditional mapping methods and/or geophysical techniques. This allowed the construction of a local model of the deglaciation of the area which recognized five main stages. An ice sheet covering most of Ireland withdrew as a single body as far as the midlands. At this stage, two main directions of ice retreat are identified from the spatial distribution of meltwater/overflow channels, esker and morainic ridges, and ice‐marginal glaciolacustrine deposits. A pattern of deglacial sedimentation into an expanding ice‐marginal glacial lake is depicted. The glacial lake was dammed to the west by two ice dome fronts, one decaying to the north‐west and another to the south‐west, and by the Shannon Basin watershed to the east. Glacial lake outlets identified along the watershed and the altitude of the topset/foreset interface zone depicted in glaciodeltaic deposits allowed the identification of three lake water levels. The highest level is at 87–89 m Ordnance Datum (OD), the second lake level at 84 m OD and the third at 78 m OD. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Late Pleistocene stratigraphy and sedimentary environments of the Severnaya Dvina‐Vychegda region in northwestern Russia

The Late Pleistocene stratigraphy from the Severnaya Dvina‐Vychegda region of northwestern Russia is revised based on investigations of new localities, revisiting earlier localities, introduction of about 110 new OSL dates and burial depth corrections of earlier published OSL dates, in addition to six new radiocarbon dates. Most of the OSL samples studied here are from fluvial and subaquaeous sediments, which we found to be well bleached. Six chronostratigraphical units and their sedimentary environment are described, with the oldest unit consisting of pre‐Eemian glacial beds. For the first time, Early Weichselian sediments are documented from the region and a fluvial environment with some vegetation and permafrost conditions is suggested to have persisted from the end of the Eemian until at least about 92 ka ago. The period in which a Middle Weichselian White Sea Lake could have existed is constrained to 67?62 ka, but as the lake level never reached the thresholds of the drainage basin, the lake probably existed only for a short interval within this time‐span. Blocking and reversal of fluvial drainage started again around 21?20 ka ago when the Fennoscandian Ice Sheet advanced into the area, reaching its maximum 17?15 ka ago. At that time, an ice‐dammed lake reached its maximum water level, which was around 135 m above present sea level. Drainage of the lake started shortly after 15 ka ago, and the lake was emptied within 700 years. Severe periglacial conditions, with permafrost and aeolian activity, prevailed in the area until about 10.7 ka.     

西藏纳木错晚更新世以来湖面变化和湖相沉积中粘土矿物显示的环境信息

通过对西藏海拔最高、面积最大湖泊-纳木错周缘湖相沉积、湖岸堤的野外调查和湖岸阶地的水准测量,发现在纳木错沿岸拔湖48m以下,发育有6级湖岸阶地,拔湖48~139.2m发育有高位湖相沉积。湖相沉积物的同位素测年结果表明,纳木错湖泊发育与藏北高原东南部古大湖演化可划分为3个阶段:①116~37kaB.P.间的古大湖期;②37~30kaB.P.间的外流湖期;③30kaB.P.以来的纳木错期。根据纳木错晚更新世以来湖相沉积中粘土矿物的X光衍射分析结果,以及采用比值法、高岭石法和衍射峰法的研究,探讨了粘土矿物所显示的环境变化信息。粘土矿物成分变化表明,该区已具备了寒温带干旱、半干旱区的气候环境特征。为研究青藏高原的湖泊演化、气候变化、古地理变迁及其隆升过程等提供了新资料。      

泥河湾盆地沉积物粒度组分与磁化率变化相关性研究

以泥河湾盆地郝家台剖面为例,分析沉积物粒级组分与磁化率大小变化的相关性。从厚约 12 2m的剖面选取 80 0多个样品,分别测试从 0.2～ 5 0 0 μm各个粒度区间颗粒的百分含量和质量磁化率。通过计算它们之间的相关关系,认为湖相沉积物磁化率的变化与 0.2～ 35 μm间细粒物质的含量,特别是与 0.2～ 7.5 μm区间悬浮物质的含量反相关,而与 35～ 5 0 0 μm间较粗粒物质的含量正相关。这种相关性与顶部的黄土堆积刚好相反,反映了二者之间磁化率不同的变化机制。据此可认为以外源碎屑输入为主的湖泊中,沉积物磁化率的变化主要受控于外源铁磁性矿物,它反映了湖水面的升降,蕴涵着一定的古气候信息。     

基于瞬变电磁法(TEM)的西昆仑地区多年冻土厚度探测与研究

多年冻土厚度对于多年冻土的区域分布和环境效应具有重要控制和指示意义. 应用瞬变电磁法(TEM)对青藏高原西昆仑地区的多年冻土下限进行了探测, 并结合钻孔资料分析了该研究区域多年冻土厚度的分布特征. 结果表明:研究区域多年冻土厚度随地形、地质条件的差异表现出显著的空间差异性. 沿着219国道从509道班到奇台达坂的高山峡谷区, 随着海拔的升高, 多年冻土从无到有, 而且, TEM探测到的多年冻土厚度从不到10 m到接近100 m, 平均厚度约为55 m; 自界山达坂向东到拉竹龙的低山丘陵区, 除部分区域发育融区外, 多年冻土厚度一般在50 m左右, TEM探测显示多年冻土平均厚度约为58 m; 进入甜水海盆地, 多年冻土厚度普遍超过60 m, TEM探测到靠近湖泊的盆地中心地带多年冻土平均厚度可达110 m. 多年冻土厚度随地温的降低呈显著的线性增加趋势, 10 m深度地温平均每降低1 ℃, 多年冻土厚度增加29 m. 多年冻土的厚度随海拔的升高显著增加, 同时局地因素对多年冻土的发育有显著影响, 其内在机制需要进一步研究.     

Spatial interpretation of high-resolution environmental proxy data of the Middle Pleistocene Palaeolithic faunal kill site Schöningen 13 II-4, Germany

To spatially characterize the palaeolakeshore environment at the archaeological kill site Schöningen 13 II-4 of the Middle Pleistocene Reinsdorf sequence, in-depth palynological, geochemical, aquatic microfossil and archaeological analyses were undertaken on sediment sections with an average thickness of about 15 cm, concordantly overlain by faunal remains, dominated by horse, from the unique ‘Spear Horizon’ layers of the 1995 excavation campaign. The data reveal a distinctive lake level drop, documented by the change from a carbonate-rich lake marl to a carbonate-free organic mud with increased carbon content and decreasing C/N, Si/Al, Si/K and Fe/Al ratios, indicating a higher pedogenic supply of organic matter and drier conditions at the site. Compared with older, similar transitional phases of lake level changes occurring within the Reinsdorf sequence, it is important that these youngest sediments are undisturbed, indicating continuous development. Ostracod and diatom analyses indicate a lowering water level with higher salinities and rich aquatic vegetation. Mesorheophilic ostracod species along with tychoplanktic diatom taxa point to flowing waters and turbulence at the lakeshore, presumably related to spring-fed streams originating from nearby highlands. Palynological results reveal a very diverse zonal vegetation pattern around the palaeolakeshore considering an area of investigation of approximately 50 × 75 m and a tessellated type of regional vegetation during the formation of the archaeological horizons. On topographically lower elevated areas, birch groves and taxa favouring wet, marshy conditions such as Cyperaceae, indicative of terrestrialization, were predominating, while other stands of this transitional phase reveal a very dry, grass-dominated steppe woodland favouring a rich wildlife with a striking number of megaherbivores. Our results suggest that the lithological differences of the ‘Spear Horizon’ layers containing the archaeological finds were due to their respective topographical situation and that the layers were deposited almost simultaneously during the beginning of the lake level drop. Human activities seem to have concentrated in sparsely vegetated areas along the palaeolakeshore, rather than in areas of adjacent denser birch swamp forest stands.     

Seasonal and spatial distribution of redox zones during lake bank filtration in Berlin,Germany

Redox processes during bank filtration were evaluated in Berlin, where bank filtered water is abstracted for drinking water production. The investigations included the mapping of the infiltration zone, a column study and hydrochemical analyses of the groundwater sampled between lake and production well. The organic carbon content increased and the permeability of the lake sediments decreased with distance from the shoreline. The most important changes with regard to the redox state of the infiltrate occurred within the first metre of flow. Infiltration was mostly anoxic, as oxygen was rapidly consumed within the organic rich sediments. The infiltration zone revealed a vertical redox stratification with hydrochemical conditions becoming more reducing with depth rather than with distance from the lake. The redox zones were found to be very narrow below the lake and wider towards the production wells, suggesting that other than differing flow paths, reaeration after infiltration may also occur and possible mechanisms are presented. Redox conditions were influenced by strong annual temperature variations of the surface water affecting the microbial activity. Aerobic infiltration only took place close to the shore in winter.     

Holocene lake stages and thermokarst dynamics in a discontinuous permafrost affected region,north-eastern Tibetan Plateau

Sediments of a thermokarst system on the north-eastern Tibetan Plateau were studied to infer changes in the lacustrine depositional environment related to climatic changes since the early Holocene. The thermokarst pond with a length of 360 m is situated in a 14.5 × 6 km tectonically unaffected intermontane basin, which is underlain by discontinuous permafrost.A lake sediment core and bankside lacustrine onshore deposits were analysed. Additionally, fossil lake sediments were investigated, which document a former lake-level high stand. The sediments are mainly composed of marls with variable amounts of silt carbonate micrite, and organic matter.On the basis of sedimentological (grain size data), geochemical (XRF), mineralogical (XRD) and micropaleontological data (ostracods and chironomide assemblages) a reconstruction of a paleolake environment was achieved.Lacustrine sediments with endogenic carbonate precipitation suggest a lacustrine environment since at least 19.0 cal ka BP. However, because of relocation and reworking processes in the lake, the sediments did not provide distinct information about the ultimate formation of the lake. The high amount of endogenic carbonate suggests prolonged still-water conditions at about 9.3 cal ka BP. Ostracod shells and chironomid head capsules in fossil lake sediments indicate at least one former lake-level high stand, which were developed between the early and middle Holocene. From the late Holocene the area was possibly characterized by a lake-level decline, documented by a hiatus between lacustrine sediments and a reworked loess or loess-like horizon. After the lake-level decline and the following warming period, the area was affected by thermally-induced subsidence and a re-flooding of the basin because of thawing permafrost.     

大兴安岭北部霍拉盆地多年冻土及寒区环境研究的最新进展

霍拉盆地位于我国高纬度大片连续多年冻土区的北缘. 盆地内的冻土具有自中心向边缘厚度变薄、温度升高, 至四周山地出现融区等特征, 同时又受局地因素如地形地貌、地表覆被、地下水赋存规律及地质构造等影响, 冻土分布、厚度及温度的空间格局在遵从普遍规律的基础上又具有差异性. 近年来, 随着全球气候变暖及人为活动的逐步增强, 盆地内冻土及寒区环境变化显著, 对矿区转型至关重要的核心景观月牙湖几近干涸. 2013年6月、2014年5-7月先后2次对霍拉盆地多年冻土及寒区环境变化进行科学考察并展开初步研究. 在盆地内根据不同地貌、地表覆被及人为活动强度布设8个地温观测孔并将进行长期观测, 以期分析研究人为活动、植被等局地因子对冻土的影响及未来冻土与寒区环境变化; 同时, 对干涸的月牙湖底地形、地貌进行了调查并采集湖相沉积物样品, 以确定月牙湖的成因并进一步分析湖区气候及环境变迁; 对月牙湖畔湖心岛地下冰再次进行勘察, 发现厚层地下冰正在逐渐融化; 此外, 盆地内广泛发育的热喀斯特现象亦表明该区域冻土正在退化.     

成都平原第四纪化石冰楔的发现及古气候意义

最近,在成都平原西缘,大邑城西氮肥厂附近,斜江河西岸,上新统-下更新统大邑砾岩剖面的北端新开挖的露头上,发现了4条化石冰楔。这里的地理坐标是30°35'N103°31'E,海拔530m.这些冰楔发育于大邑砾岩露头的顶部。其中最大的一条,顶部宽3m,向下延伸2.5m.这些冰楔垂直向下延伸,与大邑砾岩层面斜交。所以,它们是在大邑砾岩沉积之后并经过构造变动后形成的,是大邑砾岩的后生冰楔。化石冰楔的充填物的特征与大邑砾岩有明显差别:前者为棕黄色,后者为灰白-黄色;前者砾径分选较好,砾径较细,一般长5cm~15cm,而后者砾径分选较差,粗大者20cm~30cm;前者的砾石含量高,约95%,后者的砾石含量低,约85%;前者砾石ab面产状无优势方向,而后者的ab面产状显示优势方向,倾向170°~210°,倾角30°~40°.由于两者有上述差别,所以,化石冰楔在露头上可以被识别出来。采用ESR法测定冰楔充填物的时代为0.171Ma.由此看来,这些冰楔的形成时代可能相当于V28-238深海岩心氧同位素曲线第6气候期(0.195Ma~0.128Ma),也可与中国黄土L_2~5(0.195Ma~0.180Ma)和L_2~4(0.180Ma~0.167Ma)所记录的气候波动和青藏高原倒数第二次冰期对比。
一般认为,冰楔是多年冻土的指示器,所以这些化石冰楔反映了成都平原在第四纪曾一度发育多年冻土。据研究,冰楔只能形成于年均温<-6℃的地方,高海拔多年冻土下界大致与-2℃~-4℃年均等温线相符。现今,大邑附近年均温约16℃.那么,化石冰楔形成时期,成都平原年均温至少比现今下降了18℃.      

青藏高原可可西里卓乃湖溃决出露湖底多年冻土形成过程的监测与模拟

利用可可西里卓乃湖综合监测场获取的气象、地温等数据资料,分析了卓乃湖溃决后出露湖底融区冻土的形成过程。结果表明卓乃湖溃决后的三年时间里,多年冻土下限深度分别达到4.9 m、5.4 m、5.7 m,呈现出不断增长的趋势。利用Lunardini构建的冻土形成过程模型模拟了多年冻土的形成速率和形成过程,并在此基础上初步分析了地表温度和土壤含水量对研究区多年冻土形成速率的影响。模型模拟结果显示研究区多年冻土将继续增长,多年冻土的形成速率呈现先快后慢的增长趋势并最终达到稳定状态。地表温度和土壤含水量是影响多年冻土形成的重要因素。随着温度的降低,多年冻土的形成速率逐渐加快。当地表温度不变时,在多年冻土形成初期,岩土含水量越小,多年冻土的形成速率越快。     

Impacts of climate, lake size, and supra- and sub-permafrost groundwater flow on lake-talik evolution, Yukon Flats, Alaska (USA)

In cold regions, hydrologic systems possess seasonal and perennial ice-free zones (taliks) within areas of permafrost that control and are enhanced by groundwater flow. Simulation of talik development that follows lake formation in watersheds modeled after those in the Yukon Flats of interior Alaska (USA) provides insight on the coupled interaction between groundwater flow and ice distribution. The SUTRA groundwater simulator with freeze–thaw physics is used to examine the effect of climate, lake size, and lake–groundwater relations on talik formation. Considering a range of these factors, simulated times for a through-going sub-lake talik to form through 90 m of permafrost range from ～200 to >?1,000  years (vertical thaw rates <?0.1–0.5  m?yr^?1). Seasonal temperature cycles along lake margins impact supra-permafrost flow and late-stage cryologic processes. Warmer climate accelerates complete permafrost thaw and enhances seasonal flow within the supra-permafrost layer. Prior to open talik formation, sub-lake permafrost thaw is dominated by heat conduction. When hydraulic conditions induce upward or downward flow between the lake and sub-permafrost aquifer, thaw rates are greatly increased. The complexity of ground-ice and water-flow interplay, together with anticipated warming in the arctic, underscores the utility of coupled groundwater-energy transport models in evaluating hydrologic systems impacted by permafrost.     

鹤庆盆地湖相岩心磁化率记录及其古环境意义

鹤庆盆地位于受印度季风影响的中国西南地区, 沉积连续, 厚度大, 是古环境研究的理想场所。本文主要通过对鹤庆湖相岩心磁化率记录的分析研究, 并结合碳酸盐、烧失量和粒度特征对古环境变化的响应机理, 探讨了沉积物中磁化率的古环境指示意义。本研究发现, 磁化率与碳酸盐和烧失量具有显著的相反变化; 而与粒度的关系较为复杂。磁化率与指示粗颗粒变化的中值粒径在含砂(砾)层具有较好的正相关关系; 与指示细颗粒变化的 < 4μm颗粒的相对含量, 在湖相粘土沉积中具有较为明显的正相关关系, 表明湖相沉积物中的亚铁磁性矿物主要来自于外源带入的粘土粒级碎屑物中。通过分析磁化率对古环境变化的响应机制, 并结合碳酸盐含量、烧失量和粒度变化特征, 本研究认为鹤庆盆地湖相岩心的磁化率记录可以用来反映水动力对物源区地表的侵蚀强度和搬运状况, 与流域内植被覆盖和降雨量密切相关。在干旱的冰期, 植被覆盖度较低, 地表侵蚀加剧, 带入湖泊的粘土粒级碎屑含量增加, 磁化率增高; 在湿润的间冰期, 植被覆盖度较高, 地表侵蚀减弱, 粘土粒级碎屑物的带入量减少, 磁化率降低。      

Mapping vertical profile of discontinuous permafrost with ground penetrating radar at Nalaikh depression,Mongolia

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) has become an important geophysical tool which can provide a wealth of interpretive information about the vertical profile of discontinuous permafrost. A GPR investigation was conducted in October 2006 at the Nalaikh site at the southern boundary of the Siberian discontinuous permafrost region in Mongolia. GPR data were collected along four 100-m-long profiles to identify the location of the permafrost body, which included an in situ drilling borehole and analysis of temperature observations and soil water content measurements from boreholes. The GPR interpretation results indicated that the thickness of discontinuous permafrost at the study site was only 1.9–3.0 m and the permafrost is vulnerable to climate change. The soil temperature and soil water content data demonstrate the precision of GPR image interpretation. This case demonstrated that GPR is well suited for mapping the internal structure of discontinuous permafrost with relatively low soil water content.