METHODOLOGY OF REMOTE ASSESSMENT OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF UNEXPLORED LAKES OF THE CONTINENTAL PART OF THE RUSSIAN TUNDRA

A methodology has been proposed to assess the hydrophysical and chemical-biological characteristics of unexplored small and medium lakes (with an area of up to 100 km²) in the Arctic territories of Russia using remote sensing and mathematical modeling methods. The methodology is based on the use of a one-dimensional model of hydrothermodynamic and chemical-biological processes in water bodies FLake. The technique makes it possible to obtain an estimate of heat transfer between the atmosphere, ice, water, and bottom sediments, the date of ice cover formation, its thickness, and duration of existence of freeze-up, calculate profiles of water and bottom sediment temperature and dissolved oxygen by depth based on information on geographical coordinates and lake’s surface area. Contact measurements are not required, which is extremely important for hard-to-reach and poorly explored northern territories of our country.