Assessment and forecast of the soil-plant cover status in the disturbed territories of the tundra zone

Based on the analysis of the relationships between the plant biomass and the different soil properties, a summary table for the biological, water-physical, thermophysical, agrochemical, and mechanical indices of the environmental degradation risk for the tundra soil-plant cover was compiled. Among the indices convenient for the assessment of the soil-plant cover status, the changes in the plant coverage, the depth of the soil thawing, and the humus content in the 0- to 20-cm-thick layer were distinguished. Empirical equations for their quantification are presented. Simple equations for estimating the dynamics of the tundra soilplant cover and the time of its self-regeneration on drained and undrained areas were obtained. The set of equations suggested is a model for the assessment and forecasting of the stability; degradation; dynamics; time of self-regeneration; and, in general, the status of the tundra soil-plant cover taking into account the changes in the topography and hydrothermal conditions after mechanical impacts with corresponding adverse processes.