Influence of fluctuations of frozen soil in North Asia on groundwater and assessment on resources

The distribution and fluctuations of frozen soil in North Asia are closely related to the groundwater recharge-runoff-discharge in this area, and play a role in controlling the hydrogeological conditions of North Asia. By using NOAA satellite remote sensing interpretation data of frozen soil distribution in 2009 in conjunction with local hydrogeological conditions, the frozen soil area of North Asia according to the different characteristics of its impact on the groundwater was divided into three great hydrogeologic units, i.e. continuous permafrost, island permafrost, and high-altitude permafrost. By water balance method, the amount of natural renewable resources in North Asia was calculated as 1007.45×10⁹ m³/a, with mineable resource of 705.21×10⁹ m³/a, which indicates that the reduction of frozen soil range due to climate change in recent years gives rise to the richer groundwater resources and greater potential of mineable resources in North Asia, and frozen soil melting poses a relatively significant influence on the groundwater environment and ecological environment in North Asia.