A joint scientific expedition led by Prof. KANG Shichang, Chair of the International Geographical Union (IGU) Commission on Cold and High Altitude Regions (CHAR), was successfully conducted in Yakutsk in July 2026. The expedition brought together scientists from different countries and institutions working on climate and cryospheric change, providing a valuable opportunity for scientific exchange and collaboration.

During the expedition, the research team carried out field investigations of the permafrost environment in and around Yakutsk. Yakutsk is the largest city located on continuous permafrost and in the middle reaches of the Lena River, making it an important region for studying permafrost degradation and its associated impacts. Permafrost stores large amounts of soil carbon, and degradation under global warming can release greenhouse gases, affecting the carbon cycle and contributing to the positive climate feedback. Permafrost degradation can also release pollutants, posing risks to ecosystems and environment. The field investigations focused on the regional distribution of permafrost, thermokarst landforms, freeze-thaw processes, carbon and pollutants, vegetation, and hydrological processes.

The scientific expedition provided valuable field observations and insights into permafrost degradation and its environmental risks in the circum-Arctic region. It also highlighted the role of IGU CHAR as a platform for promoting international scientific exchange and collaboration on changing environments and sustainable development in polar and high-altitude regions.

Photos from the scientific expedition in Yakutsk