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.

Expansion of voles and retraction of lemmings over 60 years along a latitudinal gradient on Yamal Peninsula

“…According to long‐term climatic data for the western sector of the Russian Arctic, the mean annual air temperature increased on average by 1.4°C for the period 1991–2020 compared to 1960–1990, and the number of days with positive mean temperatures increased on average by 10–14 days (Malkova et al., 2022). Two meteorological stations from Yamal were used for these calculations: Salekhard (forest‐tundra, mean annual temperature increased from −5.9 to −4.4°C) and Marre‐Sale (subzone D, mean annual temperature increased from −8.5 to −6.9°C).…”

“…The sum of positive monthly mean air temperatures during the warm period and the sum of negative monthly mean air temperatures during the cold period indicate that both the warm and the cold seasons warmed up by ca. 10% (Malkova et al., 2022).…”

Ground Heat Flux Reconstruction Using Bayesian Uncertainty Quantification Machinery and Surrogate Modeling

“…Borehole measurements indicate one of the fastest‐warming rates of ground temperature is in Northwestern Siberia (Biskaborn et al., 2019). Measurements from the Marre‐Sale borehole site (N69°43’, E66°51’, the location is shown in Figure S6 in Supporting Information ) (Malkova et al., 2022; Melnikov et al., 2004; Vasiliev et al., 2008) representing this region were selected to reconstruct G 0 using the proposed approach. The surface is covered with dwarf shrub, moss, and lichen combining with sedge‐moss and mud.…”

A Convergence Science Approach to Understanding the Changing Arctic

“…The region is a hotspot of surface air temperature warming: June–July warming over the period 1991–2020 has led to an increase of +1.32°C as compared to the climate normal period of 1961–1990, or +2.02°C, relative to preindustrial levels (1850–1900), far exceeding the range of natural climate variability (Hantemirov et al., 2022). Mean annual temperature changes from 1961 to 1990 to 1991–2020 are about +1.5°C (Malkova et al., 2022). There is a positive trend in liquid precipitation (mean total annual is 390 mm, 2000–2019), accompanied by a decrease in snowfall (mean total is 223 mm), and an increased likelihood of rain‐on‐snow events (Forbes et al., 2016).…”