Discussion

Considerable controversy has arisen about the record low temperature extremes at Verkhoyansk because of instrument corrections. From Dr. A. Meshcherskaya: "It is accepted that the coldest temperature for the Northern Hemisphere occurred in Verkhoyansk; Russia on 6 and 7; 1892. But in those days the temperature was measured by spirit thermometer; which is less accurate than a mercury thermometer. The spirit is the evaporating liquid; therefore measurement by spirit thermometers must be corrected (usually the correction is positive; being about 0.2°C; but is not so simple). According to "Climate of the USSR; issue 24; part I; Leningrad; 1956;" the coldest temperature (-67.7°C) occurred in Oimaykon on 6 February 1933. It is necessary to have in view that winters in East Siberia during the 20th century have become about 3°C warmer. By the opinion of the majority of Russian climatologists; the coldest place in the Northern Hemisphere is Oimyakon. Since the 30-th years of 20th century; almost every winter Oimaykon is colder than Verkhoyansk. The mean difference of minimum winter (December-February) temperature in Verkhoyanskand in Oimyakon for 43 coupled years in 20th is 2.3°C.