Demidov, Vasiliy (2022): Svalbard pingo database [dataset]. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.940793

The data contains the list of pingo and pingo-like forms over Svalbard archipelago. Each pingo is assigned with following data: coordinates, absolute height of pingo baseline, height of the mound, diameter of the mound, morphology of the mound, presence or absence of craters and crater lakes, presence or absence and chemical composition of springs/icings, chemical composition of springs/icings if applicable, geomorphological positioning, positioning relative to the local Holocene transgression limit, slope exposition if applicable, observed morphology dynamics, distance to the nearest glacier, presence or absence of vegetation cover, absolute or relative age of pingo formation where available, local geological strata and tectonic province, presence of confirmed or assumed fault line. The data allows to obtain statistics necessary for analizing pingos as phenomena of Svalbard.

The Iidentification of pingos is based on Svalbard aerial survey high resolution images which are publicly available at Norwegian Polar Institute online Topo Svalbard DEM resource (https://toposvalbard.npolar.no, 2008-2012). High resolution satellite images covering the whole archipelago are furthermorealso available at the Zoom Earth online database (https://zoom.earth). Pingo positioning, morphology, vegetation cover, presence of craters and distance to glaciers were analyzed using Norwegian Polar Institute Topo Svalbard S0 Terrengmodel Svalbard DEM model (2014) with 2-5 m resolution and orthophoto base map (maximum cache scaling 1:625 and resolution 0.165). Absolute height measurement accuracy is in range of ±2 m.

The presence of pingo springs was determined based on earlier reported data (Liestøl, 1977) with addition of pingos where icings are clearly visible on winter/spring Topo Svalbard and Zoom Earth 2018-2020 satellite images. Special information such as absolute age, drilling results, spring composition base on published data (Orvin, 1944; Liestøl, 1977; Yoshikawa and Harada, 1995, Matsuoka et. al, 2004; Hodson et. al, 2020; Demidov et al, 2019; Demidov et. al, 2020, Demidov et. al, 2021). The positioning of pingos relative to the local Holocene transgression limit was determined by comparing pingo baseline heights with the transgression isobase map of Bondevik et al. (1995) and for Grøndalen Valley with Sharin et al. (2014). Geological data is based on bedrock geology, tectonic structure and rock type maps (Geoscience atlas Atlas of Svalbard, 2019).

Personal field observations and sampling took place during summer seasons 2017-2020 on pingos of Grøndalen Valley (drilling of 4 pingos) and mounds and thermokarst funnels of Hollenderdalen Valley, in April-May 2020 on pingos and icings of Berzeliusdalen, Aurdalen, Vassdalen and Reindalen, and in March 2021 in Ebbadalen and vales around Pyramiden.