Permafrost is warming at a global scale
Многомасштабное потепление вечной мерзлоты
2019-01-10
SCID: 54.1/kxyy4n7m
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Arctic amplificationGlobal Terrestrial Network for Permafrostcontinuous vs discontinuous permafrostground temperature changepermafrost warming
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Abstract (AI)
Permafrost warming has the potential to amplify global climate change, because when frozen sediments thaw it unlocks soil organic carbon. Yet to date, no globally consistent assessment of permafrost temperature change has been compiled. Here we use a global data set of permafrost temperature time series from the Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost to evaluate temperature change across permafrost regions for the period since the International Polar Year (2007-2009). During the reference decade between 2007 and 2016, ground temperature near the depth of zero annual amplitude in the continuous permafrost zone increased by 0.39 ± 0.15 °C. Over the same period, discontinuous permafrost warmed by 0.20 ± 0.10 °C. Permafrost in mountains warmed by 0.19 ± 0.05 °C and in Antarctica by 0.37 ± 0.10 °C. Globally, permafrost temperature increased by 0.29 ± 0.12 °C. The observed trend follows the Arctic amplification of air temperature increase in the Northern Hemisphere. In the discontinuous zone, however, ground warming occurred due to increased snow thickness while air temperature remained statistically unchanged.
Key Findings
1
Antarctic permafrost warmed by 0.37 ± 0.10 °C during the reference decade.
2
Continuous permafrost warmed by 0.39 ± 0.15 °C near the depth of zero annual amplitude between 2007 and 2016.
3
Discontinuous permafrost warmed by 0.20 ± 0.10 °C over the same period.
4
Global permafrost temperature increased by 0.29 ± 0.12 °C for the period since the International Polar Year (2007–2009) evaluated over the reference decade 2007–2016.
5
In discontinuous permafrost zones, ground warming was driven by increased snow thickness despite statistically unchanged air temperatures.
6
Mountain permafrost warmed by 0.19 ± 0.05 °C between 2007 and 2016.
7
Observed permafrost warming follows Arctic amplification of Northern Hemisphere air temperature increases.
Research Object
Permafrost regions worldwide (continuous, discontinuous, mountain, and Antarctic permafrost) as measured by ground temperature time series
Research Subject
Observed changes and trends in permafrost ground temperature since 2007–2009, including regional warming magnitudes and drivers (e.g., Arctic air-temperature amplification and snow-thickness effects)
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2019-01-10
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