Monitoring of soil temperature and snow cover depth in the Irkutsk Region

Long-term data (1964–2000) from weather stations within the territory of Irkutsk region are analyzed in the paper. Quantitative assessment was made of the soil temperature response at a depth of 1.6 m to the modern climate changes. The majority of cases showed the tendency of soil temperature to rise; however, the values of linear trends are not always statistically significant. The snow depth varies slightly. The connection of soil temperature with air temperature and snow cover depth is discussed. The local physical-geographical conditions influence on the background of sufficiently significant relations between some parameters.