The Spatial Analysis of Vegetation Cover and Permafrost Degradation for a Subarctic Palsa Mire Based on UAS Photogrammetry and GPR Data in the Kola Peninsula

Subarctic palsa mires undergo substantial transformation under climate impacts, and today a reliable marker of their degradation is the vegetation cover. We studied correspondence between surface traits degradation, as expressed in composition, interior condition permafrost within subarctic central part Kola Peninsula. have employed set methods to collect data, including geobotanical relevés, unmanned aerial system (UAS) photogrammetry, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey. Based on RGB orthophoto values morphometric variables, we produced land cover classification (LCC) consistent with classes identified during field measurements. The outcome proves that additional predictors improve accuracy algorithms. three major patterns GPR cross-sections defining (i) palsas, (ii) water saturated peat, (iii) regular peat layer. As result, our data demonstrated high correlation pointed some features controlled by deposit inner structure. Under results, palsas thawing can be appraised using sequences LCC. This primarily lichen hummock—tall shrub—carpet (LH–TSh–C) sequence from top foot. also detected an asymmetric configuration west-to-east direction hypothesized it relate wind regime area snow accumulation eastern slopes. Our results highlight combined application remote UAS photogrammetry survey enables more precise delineation lateral palsas.