You misread the paper where it states
The coupling between atmospheric and ground thermal processes due to the non-conductive heat transfer processes is highly complex.
The paper in question does not say that the coupling between atmosphere and ground is not conductive. What it does say is there are non-conductive as well as conductive heat transfer processes in play and that those non-conductive processes (e.g., convection and advection) must be taken into account along with convective processes. The paper addresses all of those heat transfer mechanisms in explaining permafrost creep and glacier dynamics.