the-cryosphere-discuss.net/8/4779/2014/ doi:10.5194/tcd-8-4779-2014 © Author(s) 2014. CC Attribution 3.0 License. This discussion paper is/has been under review for the journal The Cryosphere (TC). Please refer to the corresponding final paper in TC if available. Abstract Abstract Thermal offset and surface offset are terms that describe the deviation of the mean annual ground temperature from the mean annual air temperature. These offsets are controlled by surface characteristics and topo-climatic factors on a micro-and meso-scales. Macro-climatic conditions may, however, influence the effectiveness of the re-5 sponsible processes. Existing knowledge on surface-and topography-specific offsets is not easily transferable and limits the applicability of empirical permafrost distribution models over large areas with macro-climatic gradients. In this paper we describe sur-face and thermal offsets derived from distributed measurements at seven field sites in British Columbia. Key findings are (i) a surprisingly small variation of the surface 10 offsets between different surface types and small thermal offsets in general (exclud-ing wetlands and peat), (ii) a clear influence of the micro-topography at wind exposed sites (snow cover erosion), (iii) a north–south difference of the surface offset of 4 • C in near-vertical bedrock and of 1.5–3 • C on open (no canopy) gentle slopes, (iv) only small macro-climatic differences caused by the reverse influence of snow cover thick-15 ness and annual air temperature amplitude. These findings suggest, that empirical permafrost models based on topo-climatic variables may be applicable across regions with significant macro-climatic differences.