Sergey A. Sokratov

Lomonosov Moscow State University | MSU · Faculty of Geography

"В таблицах представленны данные о строении и свойствах снежного покрова на участке, расположенном на незалесённой защищенной от ветра местности в окрестностях города Хотьково (Московская область)*. Наблюдения проводились ежегодно в период с 2014 по 2022 годы от 4 до 16 раз за зиму, в зависимости от продолжительности залегания снежного покрова. В...

In this study, we present a seasonally resolved accumulation record spanning from 1750 to 2009 Common Era (CE), based on a 181.8 m ice core obtained from the Elbrus Western Plateau in the Caucasus. We implemented various methods to account for uncertainties associated with glacier flow, layer thinning, and dating. Additionally, we applied a novel a...

Received July 3, 2023; revised September 4, 2023; accepted October 2, 2023The isotopic composition (δ18O values) of snow layers, constructing snow cover to the time of reaching maximum snow water equivalent (SWE), was compared with the isotopic content of snow precipitated over the whole the winter season 2018/19 on the territory of the Meteorologi...

Supplement to submitted paper "Spatial-temporal variability of the δ18O values and the snow structure at the territory of the Meteorological Observatory of the Lomonosov Moscow State University"

In this study, we present a seasonal-resolution accumulation record spanning the period from 1750 to 2009 Common Era (CE), based on a 181.8-m ice core obtained from the Elbrus Western Plateau in the Caucasus. We implemented various methods to account for uncertainties associated with glacier flow, layer thinning, and dating. Additionally, we develo...

The paper presents the results of field studies conducted at the MSU meteorological site for the winter period 2022/2023. The purpose of the observations was to study the development of the snow column and its spatial variability in one winter season. Field research consisted in the analysis of stratigraphic layers of snow and measuring their densi...

The paper considers the problem of monitoring seasonal variations of ground temperature in northern and mountainous areas in the light of ongoing climate changes. To study seasonal variations of ground temperature, a model site of the Moscow State University Meteorological Observatory was used with the ability to monitor air temperature, snow cover...

This paper presents the results of field studies conducted at the MSU meteorological site for the winter period of 2022/2023. The purpose of the observations was to study the development of the snow column and its spatial variability in one winter season. Field research consisted of analyzing stratigraphic layers of snow and measuring their density...

The paper presents a method of hydrological and hydrophysical studies to observe the propagation of a cold wave in the snow during the preparation of ski slopes by salting. Salting is used in the preparation of ski slopes for competitions, especially when the average daily air temperature is approaching positive levels, and during the day there is...

The article summarizes long-term comprehensive studies of the impact of hazardous cryogenic processes on the infrastructure of settlements in the Russian Arctic with the assessment of the degree of deformation of the engineering objects.

The requirements of the debris flows’ parameters assessments vary from country to country. They are based on different theoretical and empirical constructions and are validated by data from different regions. This makes difficult comparison of the reported results on estimated debris flows activity and extent. The Russian normative documents for th...

Aerial sounding of the study area of the northern slope of the Aibga Ridge was carried out using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for geomorphological large-scale geoinformation mapping of landslide slopes. The site of work was chosen on the basis of the previously carried out ecological and geomorphological zoning of the slopes of the Aibga Ridge (...

The requirements for the calculation of indicators of avalanche activity determined by climatic conditions in the territories under developing, as well as prognosis of their changes in the future are enshrined in Russian Federation legislation. However, the data required for this do not exist for all the regions of the country, especially those, th...

The rapid warming of the Arctic has led to permafrost degradation, accelerating the transport of terrestrial materials by rivers. The quantitative assessment of riverine nutrients and total suspended solids (TSS) flux is important to clarify the land–ocean connections in the Arctic. However, much is unknown about the estimates of these components f...

Arctic warming leads to permafrost degradation, which can increase ecosystem respiration and release more greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. Meanwhile, climate warming also promotes the plant growth and increases carbon assimilation. Presently, it is largely unknown about the carbon budget and their responses to climate change in the Arctic region...

Climate warming leads to vast changes in the land cover types and plant biomass in the northern high-latitude regions. The overall trend is of shrubland and tree lines moving northwards, while changes in different land cover types and vegetation growth in response to climate change are largely unknown. Here, we selected land areas with latitudes hi...

The method of studying the abrasion-accumulative coast of the Western coast of Crimea within the urban area of Sevastopol includes remote sensing using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and field studies of the morphology and structure of abrasion and landslide landforms of the coast. As a result of the research, the morphological zoning of the abras...

Satellite-based measurements of the total flow of incoming solar radiation arriving at the Earth (total solar irradiance (TSI)) have been carried out since 1977. By now, a continuous series of variations of the TSI is obtained. The 11-year cycle and its amplitude in multiyear variations of solar radiation are revealed. However, two mechanisms havin...

Toppling, falling and sliding of slopes are widespread in the mountains of the Western Caucasus. The slope hazards on Aibga Ridge and in the Mzymta river basin determine the ecological and geomorphological conditions for construction and operation of first of all, the linear infrastructures (roads and railways). Investigation considered the charact...

According to the observations of the Meteorological Observatory of Moscow State University, different atmospheric characteristics and specific of weather conditions in 2018, which turned out to be as warm, dry, anomalously sunny, low-loud and high-light year, were investigated. A lot of meteorological parameters, Solar radiation, the chemical compo...

The contribution of snow avalanches to the seasonal snow accumulation on a glacier is among the least studied components of the glacier’s mass balance. The methods for the numerical assessment of avalanche accumulation are still under development, which is related to poor avalanche data availability and difficulties in obtaining such data on most o...

Satellite measurements of total flow of upcoming to the Earth solar radiation (Total solar irradiance) are performed since 1977. At present time continues measurement series of total flow of upcoming solar radiation are obtained. In long-term measurements of solar radiation the eleven-year cycle and its amplitude is revealed. However in regularity...

The legislation of the Russian Federation establishes the need to take into account hazardous natural processes and their parameters in territorial planning, as well as presentation of them in the relevant documentation in the form of maps. In a number of countries, there is a long-standing practice of mapping the avalanche zones basing on the defi...

The aim of the investigation was assessment of spatial variability of the characteristics of snowpack, including the snow water equivalent (SWE) as the main hydrological characteristic of a seasonal snow cover. The study was performed in Khibiny Mountains (Russia), where snow density and snow cover stratigraphy were documented with the help of the...

According to the observations of the Meteorological Observatory of Moscow State University, various atmospheric characteristics and specific of weather conditions in 2017, which turned out to be as anomalously rainy, cloudy and dark, were investigated. We discuss the unusually cool weather from April to July, snow cover and destructive squall in Mo...

Te paper presents the results of studies aimed at investigation of the spatial and temporal variability of snow coverstructure on the basis of strength values and its variations obtained by means of the high-resolution penetrometer SnowMicroPen. Te possibilities of fast and independent from the observer identifcation of layers (including identifcat...

The contributions of this special issue are centered on Russian natural hazard and risk research in the territory of the Russian Federation and the former Soviet Union. The overall aim is to promote the excellent research results in this scientific field which were, unfortunately, for decades only available to the Russian-speaking community. Despit...

We here introduce our cloud chamber which enabled us to grow snow crystals from water vapour under conditions similar to those in natural clouds. The snow crystals grew as a result of water vapour supersaturation as well as due to the interaction of ice crystals and water droplets within the cloud chamber. The cloud chamber, of cylindrical shape wi...

Snow is a critically important and rapidly changing feature of the Arctic. However, snow-cover and snowpack conditions change through time pose challenges for measuring and prediction of snow. Plausible scenarios of how Arctic snow cover will respond to changing Arctic climate are important for impact assessments and adaptation strategies. Although...

A 182 m ice core was recovered from a borehole drilled into bedrock on the western plateau of Mt. Elbrus (43°20´53.9'' N, 42°25´36.0'' E; 5115 m a.s.l.) in the Caucasus, Russia, in 2009. This is the first ice core in the region that represents a paleoclimate record that is practically undisturbed by seasonal melting. Relatively high snow accumulati...

This edited volume, showcasing cutting-edge research, addresses two primary questions - what are the main drivers of change in high-mountains and what are the risks implied by these changes? From a physical perspective, it examines the complex interplay between climate and the high-mountain cryosphere, with further chapters covering tectonics, volc...

A 182 m ice core has been recovered from a borehole drilled through the glacier to the bedrock at the Western Plateau of Mt Elbrus (43°20′53.9″ N, 42°25′36.0″ E; 5115 m a.s.l.), the Caucasus, Russia, in 2009. This is the first ice core in the region which represents a paleoclimate record practically undisturbed by seasonal melting. Relatively high...

The paper presents examples of the change in snow avalanches and debris flows activity due to the anthropogenic pressure on vegetation and relief. The changes in dynamical characteristics of selected snow avalanches and debris flows due to the anthropogenic activity are quantified. The conclusion is made that the anthropogenic effects on the snow a...

Winter tourism that is intensively developed in the Russian Federation in recent years strongly depends on the snow availability and properties in the region. Climate changes exert significant influence on the functioning of mountain ski resorts, especially if they are located in areas with relatively high air temperatures in winter season. At the...

We modified a passive capillary sampler (PCS) to collect snowmelt water for isotopic analysis. Past applications of PCSs have been to sample soil water, but the novel aspect of this study was the placement of the PCSs at the ground-snowpack interface to collect snowmelt. We deployed arrays of PCSs at 11 sites in ten partner countries on five contin...

Debris flows are the most frequent and disastrous natural hazards among other exogenic processes at the Black Sea coastal region of the North Caucasus. Numerous debris flow releases are reported every year between Novorossiysk and Krasnaya Polyana. The debris flows bring economic losses, and sometimes loss of human lives. Quantification of the econ...

Debris flows are the most frequent and disastrous natural hazards among other exogenic processes at the Black Sea coastal region of the North Caucasus. Numerous debris flow releases are reported every year between Novorossiysk and Krasnaya Polyana. The debris flows bring economic losses, and sometimes loss of human lives. Quantification of the econ...

Laboratory researches of isotope structure of water and ice in the dispersed ground have been carried out. It has been established that the isotopic fractionation occurs during water interaction with ground and water migration and ice formation on freezing. The isotopic fractionation depends on ground composition and freezing conditions.

Snowpack is a reflection of different environmental factors, joining all three spheres: atmo-, hydro- and geosphere. Orographic diversity of Slovenia influences the climate and also snowpack characteristics in alpine part of Slovenia that differ of those in the other parts of the Alps. To improve our knowledge about characteristics of snowpack and...

Starting with an overview on losses due to mountain hazards in the Russian Federation and the European Alps the question is raised why a substantial number of events still is recorded – despite considerable efforts in hazard mitigation and risk reduction. The main reason for this paradox lies in a missing dynamic risk-based approach, and it is show...

Starting with an overview on losses due to mountain hazards in the Russian Federation and the European Alps the question is raised why a substantial number of events still is recorded - despite considerable efforts in hazard mitigation and risk reduction. The main reason for this paradox lies in a missing dynamic risk-based approach, and it is show...

Basins of 118 watercourses where formation of mudflows is possible were identified at the Caucasian coast of the Black Sea between Novorossiysk and Adler cities. The following parameters were used for mudflow risk evaluation: probability of death as a result of mudflow event during a year at a particular territory (individual mudflow risk) and poss...

Dry-snow metamorphism was the focus of extensive investigations in Russia over several decades. Large amounts of data were collected and used to construct a conceptual model based on crystallographic laws. The difference in terminology compared with the conventional model made these results less accessible to the wider international snow science co...

In recent years, the Government of the Russian Federation considerably increased attention to the exploitation of the Russian Arctic territories. Simultaneously, the evaluation of snow avalanches danger was enhanced with the aim to decrease fatalities and reduce economic losses. However, it turned out that solely reporting the degree of avalanche d...

In recent years, the Government of the Russian Federation considerably increased attention to the exploitation of the Russian Arctic territories. Simultaneously, the evaluation of snow avalanches danger was enhanced with the aim to decrease fatalities and reduce economic losses. However, it turned out that solely reporting the degree of avalanche d...

Laboratory tests on isotopic composition of water and ice in structure-forming soils were carried out. The results of the tests have shown that the interactions between water and soils, water migration, and ice formation during the freezing process cause isotope fractionation influenced by soil composition and freezing conditions.

In temperate humid catchments the storage of precipitation in snowpack, and the subsequent melting, both highly variable in space and time, substantially impacts the water cycle. Recent climate warming and changes in atmospheric circulation patterns have resulted in reductions in the duration of the snow cover season, the amount of water stored in...

In temperate humid catchments the storage of precipitation in snowpack, and the subsequent melting, both highly variable in space and time, substantially impacts the water cycle. Recent climate warming and changes in atmospheric circulation patterns have resulted in reductions in the duration of the snow cover season, the amount of water stored in...

Austria has the highest national added value from winter tourism in Europe, as well as worldwide. 15.7 million arrivals were counted in Austrian accommodation establishments in the 2010/11 winter season. There were more than 62 million overnight stays and 51.2 million skier-days were consumed. 588 million transports were carried out by more than 30...

Mountain regions provide a significant proportion of areas used for human settlements, economic purpose, and recreation. Simultaneously, due to steep vertical gradients mountain areas are prone to mass movement processes. The intersection of such processes with areas used by human action turns them into hazards. In particular in arctic regions, whi...

The first evaluations of the snow avalanches and debris flow danger in the region of Krasnaya Polyana (Winter Olympic Games 2014 site) were made by the staff of LSADF in 1960s. In those times the danger was estimated as medium and low. Active development of the region started in 2000, when the ski (mountain climatic health) resort Alpika Service wa...

Analysis of in situ and satellite data shows evidence of different regional snow cover responses to the widespread warming and increasing winter precipitation that has characterized the Arctic climate for the past 40–50years. The largest and most rapid decreases in snow water equivalent (SWE) and snow cover duration (SCD) are observed over maritime...

A model for the effective heat conductivity of an anisotropic porous medium that includes solid-gas phase transitions is presented. The model satisfactorily reproduces the experimentally observed temporal change of the effective heat conductivity of snow caused by snow recrystallization (metamorphism). The input parameters for the model are snow po...

We present results from cold-laboratory observations of changes in isotopic (δ18O and δD) content by sublimation in snow and ice samples under nearly isothermal conditions. The results show large increases in observed δ18O and δD in snow samples within several centimeters of the surface. They contradict the assumption of a non-changing isotopic con...

Snow is the natural resource, like soil and water. It has specific properties which allow its use not just for skiing but also for houses cooling in summer (Swedish experience), for air fields construction (Arctic and Antarctic), for dams (north of Russia), for buildings (not only snow-houses of some Polar peoples but artistic hotel attracting tour...

The "International Classification for Seasonal Snow on the Ground" published in 1990 is now well accepted by most snow scientists and practitioners around the world. Nevertheless, the snow community felt some points needed to be revised. Most problems were spotted within the classification of wet snow and crusts, but also in conjunction with polar...

The project focused on multi-scale and multidisciplinary aspects of seasonal snow cover in the landscape. The snow physics parameterization takes into account snow structure for use in the Global Circulation Models (GCM). The geographic classification of snow classes is based on snow types, snow layers and crystal types. Numerical experiments with...