Annual dynamics of temperature in the soil of the Mountain Arctic (goltsovy) deserts belt in Khibiny Mountains (Murmansk Region)

As part of comprehensive environmental research of the highest Arctic mountain (goltsovy) desert belt of the Khibiny, data were obtained on the annual temperature dynamics in fragmentary cushions of vegetation. Area of investigation was disposed on the plateau of Mt. Aikuayvenchorr (1059–1063 m a. s. l.) and Vudyavrchorr plateau (1023 m a. s. l.). The period with negative values of the average daily temperature of the litter prevailed in the annual cycle (more than 200 days or 58 %). The sum of positive and negative temperatures, the number of days with temperatures below 0, from 0 ̊C to +5 ̊C, from + 5 ̊C to + 10 ̊C and above + 10 ̊C in litters was determined. The differences in the annual temperature dynamics in the litters of the alpine belt for two areas of research located on the Aikuayvenchorr and Vudyavrchorr plateaus are shown.