Temperature regime of the cold period in the Arctic zone of Yakutia for 1960–2022

Abstract

Changes in the Arctic have global consequences. An increase in air temperature and a change in the cold period can affect vulnerable ecosystems with a permafrost lithogenic base in the Yakutia Arctic region. In this study, we specified the dates of the beginning and end of the cold period in spring and autumn for two multi-year periods (1961–1990 and 1991–2022) of the northwestern and northeastern parts of the Arctic zone in Yakutia. We calculated the temperature difference and rate of change (C°/10 years) for 1960–2022. We used meteorological series according to the “RIHMI-WDC” data: st. Olenek (Oleneksky ulus), st. Zhigansk (Zhigansky) st. Chokurdakh (Allaikhovsky) and st. Srednekolymsk (Srednekolymsky). For the period 1991–2022 in the northwestern part of the Arctic zone in Yakutia, a reduction in the cold period was observed due to an earlier onset in spring (May: 4 days at Olenek station and 6 days at Zhigansk station) and in the northeastern part-later autumn (September: 3 days at Chokurdakh and Srednekolymsk stations). The results of our study indicate that in April, the difference in the average air temperature between 1961 and 1990 and 1991–2022 at all stations is higher than in October. The only exception is the information obtained according to st. Chokurdakh (October–2.6°C, April–2.1°C). The rate of change in air temperature (°С/10 years) for the period 1960–2022 at the beginning of the cold period (October), it manifested itself to a greater extent in the northeast of Yakutia (Srednekolymsk station – 0.7 °C/10 years, Chokurdakh –°C/10 years). In the middle (January – 1.1 °С/10 years) and the end (April – 1.0 °С/10 years) of the cold period, the maximum rate of air temperature change was noted in the north-west of Yakutia according to the data of st. Olenek.This study is necessary for the verification and selection of representative climate models, the analysis of the spatiotemporal variability of the cold period, and the forecasting and contribution to the overall dispersion of soil temperature.