Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Long-term soil temperature changes in high-latitude regions have been reported mainly focusing on the near-surface air and sub-surface soil temperature because of limited observational data. This gap still obscures spatiotemporal changes and associated processes of vertical thermal changes at multiple soil layers over such climate-sensitive regions. This study investigates changes of soil temperature across Northern Eurasia utilizing monthly temperature data at seven soil depth layers over 1963–2022. This study examines the past trends in the three coarse soil depth levels (up to one, two, and three meters below the surface) across seasons. Results indicate diversity in vertical thermal changes over Northern Eurasia. Most stations show statistically significant warming at near-surface air temperature on annual average, which are attributable to the substantial warming prevalence in boreal spring (96% of total stations) partially with relatively weak prevalence in boreal winter and autumn (47% and 55%, respectively). Surface warming is intensified in the deep soil layers within continuous-permafrost regions, particularly during boreal summer, showing a spring-to-summer shift in the vertical distribution of warming. The results indicate soil depth-dependent variations of warming trends in Northern Eurasia as a response to climate change. This study highlights the value of long-term multiple soil-depth temperature data as a reference for model evaluation over high latitude regions like Northern Eurasia.
Source: Environmental Research Letters
Authors: Yeonjin Son, Jonghun Kam
Institution: Pohang University of Science and Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Atmospheric Science
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,045
OpenAlex ID: W7220727461