Spatial and Temporal Variability of Permafrost in the Western Part of the Russian Arctic

Abstract

Climate warming in the Russian Arctic over the past 40 years shows a variety of patterns at different locations and time periods. In the second half of the 20th century, the maximum rates of warming were characteristic of the subarctic permafrost regions of Russia. But in the 21st century, the locations of the greatest rates of climate warming moved to the Arctic zone of Russia. It was one of the reasons for a sharp increase in permafrost temperatures, an increase in the depth of seasonal thaw, and the formation of closed taliks. It was found that as a result of climate change, the differences in permafrost temperatures between different cryogenic landscapes in the area of continuous and discontinuous permafrost distribution have decreased, and in the area of sporadic permafrost distribution are now practically absent. The thermal regime of the ground shows dramatic changes everywhere with a pronounced reduction in the depth of zero annual amplitude.

Keywords

• mean annual temperature
• climate change
• depth of zero annual amplitude
• monitoring of permafrost
• ground thermal regime