Аннотация:Seasonal freezing is spread all over the territory of Western Moscow Region but it exhibits various intensity,
spatial non-uniformity and considerable variability from year to year. The spatial regularities of seasonal
freezing formation are to a different degree connected with the climate, the lithology, the conditions of
the heat exchange through the surface and landscape structure as well as the degree of anthropogenic
disturbance. Decadal field observations (2004-2015 with gaps) including thermal measurements conducted
in last few years, revealed that the seasonally frozen layer of Central Russia was mainly influenced by
the microclimatic and ground conditions. The research allowed us to establish the correlation of the
freezing depth and of the cryogenic structures with the snow cover structure and with meteorological
characteristics. The studies showed that the actual depth of the seasonally frozen layer ranged from 0 cm
to 1.2 m and depended on the complex of climatological and lithological factors even in the abnormally
cold winter period of 2005-2006. The foundation of low-load (lightweight) buildings and structures that
is laid at the indicated depth does not ensure their stability in frost-susceptible grounds because irregular
deformations of the buildings may occur not only due to the direct but also due to the tangent forces of
cryogenic heaving. The evaluation of the dynamics of the seasonally frozen layer makes it also possible to
predict the spring flood.