Abstract

Permafrost is widespread in mountainous volcanic areas of the Kamchatka Peninsula. In this paper, we describe geocryological conditions (active layer depths, permafrost temperatures, ground thermal properties and cryostratigraphy) in the Klyuchevskaya volcano group and estimate the spatial distribution of permafrost using a simple statistical model. Measured mean annual ground temperatures (MAGTs) vary from near 08C around 950 m a.s.l. to 78C at 2500 m a.s.l. and permafrost is predicted to occur at elevations > 700 m a.s.l. Heat transfer modelling indicates that the maximum permafrost thickness is about 1000 m for the highest summits (5000 m a.s.l.).