Factors of Cryosol Formation - Cryopedology - page 36

Table 4.1 Periglacial climates of the polar and alpine regions (French 2007 )
1. High Arctic climates - in polar latitudes; extremely weak diurnal pattern, strong seasonal
pattern. Small daily and large annual temperature range. Examples: Spitsbergen (Green
Harbour, 78°N); Canadian Arctic (Sachs Harbour (Ikaahuk), 72°N).
2. Continental climates - in sub-arctic latitudes; weak diurnal pattern, strong seasonal pattern.
Extreme annual temperature range. Examples: Central Siberia (Yakutsk, 62°N); Interior Alaska
and Yukon Territory (Fairbanks, 65°N; Dawson City, 64°N).
3. Alpine climates - in middle latitudes in mountain environments; well-developed diurnal and
seasonal patterns. Examples: Colorado Front Range, USA (Niwot Ridge, 40°N); European Alps
(Sonnblick, 47°N).
4. Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) plateau - a high-elevation, low-latitude mountain environment.
Well-developed diurnal and seasonal patterns. Above-normal insolation due to elevations of
4,200-4,800 m a.s.l. Example: Fenghuo Shan (34°N).
5. Climates of low annual temperature range - two types of azonal locations: (a) island
climates in sub-arctic latitudes. Examples: Jan Mayen (71°N), South Georgia (54°S). (b)
Mountain climates in low latitudes. Examples: Andean summits, Mont Blanc Station, and El
Misti, Peru (16°S); Mauna Kau, Hawaii (20°N).
6. Antarctic climate - intense cold, windiness, and aridity of the ice-free areas of the Antarctic
continent.

4.1.2 Temperature

The MAAT ranges from +1 °C in areas of sporadic or isolated permafrost to −20 °C
or colder in the northern Canadian Arctic Archipelago and ice-free areas of the
interior Antarctic mountains (Table 4.2 ). There is considerable variation in the
amplitude of mean monthly temperatures in cryosol regions. In cryosol areas with a
maritime climate, as on Svalbard, Norway or King George Island, Antarctica, the
variation from the coldest to the warmest month may be only 17-21 °C. In contrast
the annual monthly variation in cryosol areas with an ultra-continental climate, such
as Yakutsk, Siberia, may be as high as 55°. The temperature of the warmest month
is strongly dependent on latitude and elevation. The mean July temperature varies
from 2 to 6 °C in the High Arctic, from 5 to 12 °C in the Mid-Arctic, and from 6 to
19 °C in the Low Arctic. In high-mountain areas with permafrost, the mean July
temperature ranges between 4 and 11 °C.

4.1.3 Precipitation and Humidity

There is also considerable variation in mean annual and monthly variations in pre-
cipitation and in the form of precipitation in cryosol areas. In Antarctica the MAP
varies from <10 mm in the McMurdo Dry Valleys to over 1,000 mm along the
western Antarctic Peninsula (Table 4.2 ).
However, many areas in the Arctic and the high mountains of central Asia receive
between 200 and 400 mm year −1 of water equivalent (w.e.) precipitation. Many
high-mountain locations receive between 1,400 and 2,000 mm of precipitation