An observation-based assessment of the influences of air temperature and snow depth on soil temperature in Russia
This study assessed trends in the variability of soil temperature (T _SOIL ) using spatially averaged observation records from Russian meteorological land stations. The contributions of surface air temperature (SAT) and snow depth (SND) to T _SOIL variation were quantitatively evaluated. Composite t...
Published in: | Environmental Research Letters |
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Main Authors: | , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
IOP Publishing
2014
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/9/6/064026 https://doaj.org/article/67bdad7b6e944cc9ab7313f1e625ef37 |
Summary: | This study assessed trends in the variability of soil temperature (T _SOIL ) using spatially averaged observation records from Russian meteorological land stations. The contributions of surface air temperature (SAT) and snow depth (SND) to T _SOIL variation were quantitatively evaluated. Composite time series of these data revealed positive trends during the period of 1921–2011, with accelerated increases since the 1970s. The T _SOIL warming rate over the entire period was faster than the SAT warming rate in both permafrost and non-permafrost regions, suggesting that SND contributes to T _SOIL warming. Statistical analysis revealed that the highest correlation between SND and T _SOIL was in eastern Siberia, which is underlain by permafrost. SND in this region accounted for 50% or more of the observed variation in T _SOIL . T _SOIL in the non-permafrost region of western Siberia was significantly correlated with changes in SAT. Thus, the main factors associated with T _SOIL variation differed between permafrost and non-permafrost regions. This finding underscores the importance of including SND data when assessing historical and future variations and trends of permafrost in the Northern Hemisphere. |
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