The evolution of permafrost in the western part of the Todzha depression, Russia

The results of recent investigations of the Merzliy Yar outcrop in western part of the Todzha depression (Tuva Republic, Russia) allow us to reconstruct the region's early Holocene history. The ice wedges, cryoturbations and ice-wedge casts are shown by 14C to date from the 10,000–11,000 yr B.P. interval. The stable isotopes (18O and D) of the wedge ice suggest the climatic environment at the time of formation. Winter temperatures in the early Holocene were no higher than those of today, with mean January temperatures of − 27 to − 31 °C.