The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has released Volume II of its Guide to Instruments and Methods of Observation (WMO-No. 8): Measurement of Cryospheric Variables. For the first time, the guide features a dedicated chapter on Permafrost!  

Co-authored by Anna Irgang from the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), this milestone represents the culmination of a four-year writing and review effort. The chapter underwent rigorous internal and external reviews before being approved by the WMO Commission for Observation, Infrastructure and Information Systems (INFCOM). 

 Within Arctic PASSION, this effort is better known as the development of the "GTN-P permafrost observing best practices for inclusion in the WMO Guide”. Arctic PASSION provided significant support for the lead of the team, Anna Irrgang, to develop this chapter. Picture 

The new 42-page chapter delivers detailed guidance on how to measure the three Permafrost Essential Climate Variable products:  

• Permafrost temperature 
• Active layer thickness 
• Rock glacier velocity 

All recommendations are fully aligned with the standards of the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS), with the goal of ensuring consistency of Permafrost measurements across monitoring systems worldwide. 

Whether you’re new to permafrost research or a seasoned expert, this chapter offers a comprehensive overview of best practices and methods to support accurate and comparable data collection – vital for understanding and responding to climate change in cold regions.