Permafrost thermal dynamics at a local scale in northern Da Xing’anling Mountains

Abstract

Permafrost in Northeastern China is not only controlled by latitude and elevation, but also locally environmental factors, such as vegetation cover and human activities. During 2009-2022, thinning active layer, increasing annual maximum frost depth in talik zones and lowering ground temperature above the depth of dividing point (DDP) between permafrost cooling and warming have been observed in many places, possibly due to the global warming hiatus (GWH). However, the responses of permafrost below DDP did not show a clear trend to the GWH, despite an evident ground warming. The warming and degradation of permafrost below DDP in the Da Xing’anling Mountains are more strongly influenced by the overall climate warming than by regional GWH. This study improves our understanding of changing permafrost temperature and its drivers. It also helps to provide data support and references for the management of the ecological and hydrological environment of the northern Da Xing’anling Mountains and the Heilongjiang-Amur River Basin.