Water and Carbon Dynamics in Eastern Siberia: Introduction

Abstract

In this chapter, we describe the background for water and carbon dynamics in eastern Siberia. This chapter consists of two parts: (1) the climate, permafrost, and vegetation conditions in eastern Siberia and (2) research on water and carbon dynamics conducted within the former Soviet Union. The hydrological and meteorological systems in eastern Siberia are characterised by cool temperatures, especially in winter, and low precipitation. The history of water and carbon dynamics research in eastern Siberia includes many discoveries that are relatively new to people outside of Russia due to long-standing barriers between social systems. Thus, these research findings began to contribute to global understanding only in the second half of the 1990s. This chapter will provide a more comprehensive understanding of discoveries in water and carbon dioxide dynamics in eastern Siberia made by researchers in Russia, Japan, and other countries.