Active layer and permafrost monitoring in Western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica

Abstract

Since the International Polar Year in 2007 and 2008, the active-layer and permafrost thermal regimes in accessible parts of Western Dronning Maud Land have been monitored as part of the international efforts in the northern and southern Polar Regions. Data recorded has contributed to the Antarctic Permafrost and Soils group of SCAR and the International Permafrost Association (IPA., as well as the Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost (GTN-P.. An initial evaluation of temperatures was conducted in 2010 by Vieira et al., followed by an active-layer synopsis (Hrbá?ek et al. 2018. and an evaluation of permafrost temperature trends over the last decade (Biskaborn et al. Subm... While measurements from Antarctica are sparse, the relatively short period of monitoring in the Ahlmannryggen and Jutulsessen show that permafrost temperatures are increasing and that the active-layer is thickening. The results of this study are in line with a global analysis that shows Antarctic Permafrost warming at 0.37±0.1°C.dec-1 and global Permafrost at 0.31±0.1°C.dec-1 (Biskabon et al. subm.. It is not immediately clear if the observed trends represent short-term variations, or if they signify long-term warming. However, when considered together with ice-mass balance studies and sea-ice trends, it is most likely that the trends observed from borehole data in Western Dronning Maud Land are part of a content-wide warming that represents a global warning system. - Abstract as displayed in the - Abstract booklet. The presentation on the day may differ from the - Abstract.