Current changes of climate and permafrost in the arctic and sub‐arctic of Russia

In northern Russia, from the time meteorological measurements began in the early nineteenth century to the end of that century, the air temperature was characterized by a general decrease (approximately 1°C). It then rose up to the 1950s (by 0.6°C). A subsequent slight fall in temperature lasted until the mid 1970s. Since then a further rise has been observed (0.6–0.9°C). Temperatures in the upper horizons of permafrost over the last 10–20 years are in good agreement with recent global warming trends. For the European north‐east during the period 1970–90 a rise in temperature at a depth of 3 m amounted to 0.6–0.7°C on average. However, this rise is related not necessarily to a rise in air temperature, but more likely to an increase in snow cover.