Permafrost degradation in the Western Russian Arctic

Abstract

The Global Climate Observing System and Global Terrestrial Observing Network have identified permafrost as an ‘Essential Climate Variable,’ for which ground temperature and active layer dynamics are key variables. This work presents long-term climate, and permafrost monitoring data at seven sites representative of diverse climatic and environmental conditions in the western Russian Arctic. The region of interest is experiencing some of the highest rates of permafrost degradation globally. Since 1970, mean annual air temperatures and precipitation have increased at rates from 0.05 to 0.07 °C yr ^−1 and 1 to 3 mm yr ^−1 respectively. In response to changing climate, all seven sites examined show evidence of rapid permafrost degradation. Mean annual ground temperatures increases from 0.03 to 0.06 °C yr ^−1 at 10–12 m depth were observed in continuous permafrost zone. The permafrost table at all sites has lowered, up to 8 m in the discontinuous permafrost zone. Three stages of permafrost degradation are characterized for the western Russian Arctic based on the observations reported.

Keywords

• climate change
• permafrost degradation
• monitoring
• Western Russian Arctic