Thermal Regime of Permafrost on the Western Yamal Under Climate Warming

Abstract

Climate change observed in the Arctic affects all components of the natural environment, including the state of permafrost. The purpose of this study is to quantify the response of permafrost in various landscapes to changing climatic parameters. The results of long-term field observations (1978-2021) of the thermal regime of permafrost on the Western Yamal are presented. Along with the increase in mean annual air temperatures, the mean annual ground temperature over the past 43 years has increased by 1.5-2.2°C. The maximum increase of permafrost temperature values is observed on flat and polygonal tundra, the minimum increase is typical for flooded lake basins. A decrease in the annual permafrost temperature amplitude was revealed. That is caused by a rapid increase in the air temperature of the cold period, an increase in the snow thickness and an increase in soil moisture in the active layer. The shrinking in ground temperature amplitude at a depth of 5 m is 0.5-3.6°C. A trend of reducing depth of zero annual amplitude from 12-18 m (1980) to 13-16 m (2021) has been revealed.