Discussion on possibilities of taking ground ice in permafrost as water sources on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during climate warming

Large amounts of ground ice are born with permafrost on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.Degradation of permafrost resulted from the climate warming will inevitably lead to melting of ground ice.The water released from the melting ground ice enters hydrologic cycles at various levels,and changes regional hydrologic regimes to various degrees.Due to difficulties in monitoring the perma-frost-degradation-release-water process,direct and reliable evidence is few.The accumulative effect of releasing water,however,is remarkable in the macro-scale hydrologic process.On the basis of the monitoring results of water-levels changes in some lakes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,and combined with the previous results of the hydrologic changing trends at the regional scale,the authors preliminarily discussed the possibilities of the degrading permafrost on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as a potential water source during climate warming.     

The changing process and trend of ground temperature around tower foundations of Qinghai-Tibet Power Transmission line

After the construction of Qinghai-Tibet Highway and Railway, the Qinghai-Tibet Power Transmission(QTPT) line is another major permafrost engineering project with new types of engineering structures. The changing process and trend of ground temperature around tower foundations are crucial for the stability of QTPT. We analyzed the change characteristics and tendencies of the ground temperature based on field monitoring data from 2010 to 2014. The results reveal that soil around the tower foundations froze and connected with the artificial permafrost induced during the construction of footings after the first freezing period, and the soil below the original permafrost table kept freezing in subsequent thawing periods. The ground temperature lowered to that of natural fields, fast or slowly for tower foundations with thermosyphons,while for tower foundations without thermosyphons, the increase in ground temperature resulted in higher temperature than that of natural fields. Also, the permafrost temperature and ice content are significant factors that influence the ground temperature around tower foundations. Specifically, the ground temperature around tower foundations in warm and ice-rich permafrost regions decreased slowly, while that in cold and ice poor permafrost regions cooled faster. Moreover, foundations types impacted the ground temperature, which consisted of different technical processes during construction and variant of tower footing structures. The revealed changing process and trend of the ground temperature is beneficial for evaluating the thermal regime evolution around tower foundations in the context of climate change.     

Changes in the global cryosphere and their impacts: A review and new perspective

As one of the five components of Earth's climatic system, the cryosphere has been undergoing rapid shrinking due to global warming. Studies on the formation, evolution, distribution and dynamics of cryospheric components and their interactions with the human system are of increasing importance to society. In recent decades, the mass loss of glaciers, including the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, has accelerated. The extent of sea ice and snow cover has been shrinking, and permafrost has been degrading. The main sustainable development goals in cryospheric regions have been impacted. The shrinking of the cryosphere results in sea-level rise, which is currently affecting, or is soon expected to affect, 17 coastal megacities and some small island countries. In East Asia, South Asia and North America, climate anomalies are closely related to the extent of Arctic sea ice and snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere. Increasing freshwater melting from the ice sheets and sea ice may be one reason for the slowdown in Atlantic meridional overturning circulation in the Arctic and Southern Oceans. The foundations of ports and infrastructure in the circum-Arctic permafrost regions suffer from the consequences of permafrost degradation. In high plateaus and mountainous regions, the cryosphere's shrinking has led to fluctuations in river runoff, caused water shortages and increased flooding risks in certain areas. These changes in cryospheric components have shown significant heterogeneity at different temporal and spatial scales. Our results suggest that the quantitative evaluation of future changes in the cryosphere still needs to be improved by enhancing existing observations and model simulations. Theoretical and methodological innovations are required to strengthen social economies' resilience to the impact of cryospheric change.     

RESPONSE OF THE CANADIAN PERMAFROST ENVIRONMENT TO CLIMATIC CHANGE

Human-induced climatic warming will have major impacts on permafrost, which presently underlies half of Canada's land mass. The adaptation of the northern environment and its physical processes to the altered climate may be contemporaneous or may lag behind climatic change. The extent of permafrost will diminish, accompanied by modifications of the land surface through thermokarst or mass wasting. Streamflow regimes, sediment transport, coastal flooding and erosion will be affected. The magnitude of most components of the water balance will be altered. More research is needed to understand how the permafrost environment behaves during the transient phase, and the problem of permafrost adaptation should be addressed holistically. [Key words: climatic change, frozen ground, ground ice, hydrology, permafrost, periglacial geomorphology, water balance.]     

Characteristics and changes of permafrost along the engineering corridor of National Highway 214 in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Due to a series of linear projects built along National Highway 214, the second "Permafrost Engineering Corridor" on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has formed. In this paper, by overcoming the problems of data decentralization and standard inconsistency, permafrost characteristics and changes along the engineering corridor are systematically summarized based on the survey and monitoring data. The results show that: 1) Being controlled by elevation, the permafrost is distributed in flake discontinuity with mountains as the center along the line. The total length of the road section in permafrost regions is 365 km, of which the total length of the permafrost section of National Highway 214 is 216.7 km, and the total length of the permafrost section of Gong-Yu Expressway is 197.3 km. The mean annual ground temperature (MAGT) is higher than -1.5 °C, and permafrost with MAGT lower than -1.5 °C is only distributed in the sections at Bayan Har Mountain and E'la Mountain. There are obvious differences in the distribution of ground ice in the different sections along the engineering corridor. The sections with high ice content are mainly located in Zuimatan, Duogerong Plain and the top of north and south slope of Bayan Har Mountain. The permafrost thickness is controlled by the ground temperature, and permafrost thickness increases with the decrease of the ground temperature, with the change rate of about 37 m/°C. 2) Local factors (topography, landform, vegetation and lithology) affect the degradation process of permafrost, and then affect the distribution, ground temperature, thickness and ice content of permafrost. Asphalt pavement has greatly changed the heat exchange balance of the original ground, resulting in serious degradation of the permafrost. Due to the influence of roadbed direction trend, the phenomenon of shady-sunny slope is very significant in most sections along the line. The warming range of permafrost under the roadbed is gradually smaller with the increase of depth, so the thawing settlement of the shallow section with high ice-content permafrost is more significant.     

Permafrost in Svalbard: a review of research history, climatic background and engineering challenges

This paper reviews permafrost in High Arctic Svalbard, including past and current research, climatic background, how permafrost is affected by climatic change, typical permafrost landforms and how changes in Svalbard permafrost may impact natural and human systems. Information on active layer dynamics, permafrost and ground ice characteristics and selected periglacial features is summarized from the recent literature and from unpublished data by the authors. Permafrost thickness ranges from less than 100 m near the coasts to more than 500 m in the highlands. Ground ice is present as rock glaciers, as ice-cored moraines, buried glacial ice, and in pingos and ice wedges in major valleys. Engineering problems of thaw-settlement and frost-heave are described, and the implications for road design and construction in Svalbard permafrost areas are discussed.     

Geocryological characteristics of the upper permafrost in a tundra-forest transition of the Indigirka River Valley,Russia

Understanding geocryological characteristics of frozen sediment, such as cryostratigraphy, ice content, and stable isotope ratio of ground ice, is essential to predicting consequences of projected permafrost thaw in response to global warming. These characteristics determine thermokarst extent and controls hydrological regime—and hence vegetation growth—especially in areas of high latitude; it also yields knowledge about the history of changes in the hydrological regime. To obtain these fundamental data, we sampled and analyzed unfrozen and frozen surficial sediments from 18 boreholes down to 1–2.3 m depth at five sites near Chokurdakh, Russia. Profiles of volumetric ice content in upper permafrost excluding wedge ice volume showed large variation, ranging from 40 to 96%, with an average of 75%. This large amount of ground ice was in the form of ice lenses or veins forming well-developed cryostructures, mainly due to freezing of frost-susceptible sediment under water-saturated condition. Our analysis of geocryological characteristics in frozen ground including ice content, cryostratigraphy, soil mechanical characteristics, organic matter content and components, and water stable isotope ratio provided information to reconstruct terrestrial paleo-environments and to estimate the influence of recent maximum thaw depth, microtopography, and flooding upon permafrost development in permafrost regions of NE Russia.     

Problems and countermeasures in construction of transmission line projects in permafrost regions

Construction of power transmission lines is becoming an important part of permafrost engineering in China.This paper reviews the construction status and problems of transmission lines in different countries,as well as corresponding solutions that would be of practical significance for sustainable engineering practices.Russia has the longest history of transmission line construction in permafrost areas,with transmission lines（mainly 220 kV and 500 kV） spanning approximately 100,000 km.However,all countries suffer from permafrost-related tower foundation stability problems caused by freezing-thawing hazards such as frost heave and thaw settlement,frost lifting,and harmful cryogenic phenomena.As point-line transmission line constructions,the lines,poles and towers should be reasonably selected and installed with a comprehensive consideration of frozen soil characteristics to effectively reduce the occurrence of freezing-thawing disasters.Reinforced concrete pile foundations are widely used in the permafrost regions,and construction in winter is also a universal practice.Moreover,facilitating engineering measures like thermosyphons are an effective way to reduce freezing-thawing hazards and to maintain the stability of tower foundations.     

2000—2015年中蒙俄经济走廊东段冻土时空变化及植被响应

中蒙俄经济走廊东段位于欧亚大陆多年冻土区东南缘及森林线南界接近区,冻土及生态环境脆弱。本文基于MERRA-Land陆面模式离线运行产品分析了中蒙俄经济走廊东段2000—2015年间冻土冻融的时空变化模式,以及冻土变化对返青期和全年不同阶段植被生长状态的影响。研究表明：2000—2015年间研究区多年冻土及季节冻土均持续退化,时间上主要表现为冻土提前解冻、延迟冻结;空间上主要表现为多年冻土南界的多年冻土退化和季节冻土下限抬升,及连续多年冻土南界的活动层加厚。解冻始日是森林地区植被返青的主控要素,林下冻土解冻对土壤含水量的增加及沼泽湿地的隔热蓄水功能影响了森林地区植被的生长。但随着多年冻土南界森林及林下泥炭地演替为草甸和农田,多年冻土退化,进一步促进林下沼泽湿地的消失。探讨冻土退化与生态环境之间的协同关系,有助于识别气候变暖和人类活动叠加影响下的冻土退化脆弱区以及生态环境敏感区。     

Past and present permafrost as an indicator of climate change

The permafrost history of the high northern latitudes over the last two million years indicates that perennially frozen ground formed and thawed repeatedly, probably in close synchronicity with the climate changes that led to the expansion and subsequent shrinkage of continental ice sheets. The early stages of the Pleistocene are the least known and the changes that occurred in the Late Pleistocene and early Holocene are the best known.
Evidence that permafrost is degrading in response to the current global warming trend is difficult to ascertain. The clearest signals are probably provided by changes in permafrost distribution in the sub-Arctic regions. at the extreme southern fringes of the discontinuous permafrost zone.     

考虑局地因素坡向影响的青藏高原工程走廊冻土分布与制图研究

通过Pearson相关性分析,选取对青藏高原工程走廊多年冻土分布影响较大、在GIS技术支持下较容易量化的坡向因子,结合走廊内2000—2010年29个钻孔点的地温监测数据,建立了年均地温与坡向、纬度和高程的关系模型。根据高原冻土工程地温分带指标,制作了工程走廊内符合实际的冻土分布图,由面积统计结果知:多年冻土区占整个区域的94.06%,其中,低温稳定带占多年冻土区面积的15.94%,主要分布在风火山和可可西里的高山基岩区;低温基本稳定带占16.97%,主要分布在风火山及可可西里丘陵地带;高温不稳定带占48%,主要分布于可可西里和北麓河盆地东缘;高温极不稳地带占19.09%,主要分布于北麓河盆地和楚玛尔河高平原。     

Freeze-thaw processes of active-layer soils in the Nanweng'he River National Natural Reserve in the Da Xing'anling Mountains,northern Northeast China

The active-layer soils overlying the permafrost are the most thermodynamically active zone of rock or soil and play important roles in the earth-atmosphere energy system. The processes of thawing and freezing and their associated complex hydrothermal coupling can significantly affect variation in mean annual temperatures and the formation of ground ice in permafrost regions. Using soil-temperature and-moisture data obtained from the active layer between September 2011 and October 2014 in the permafrost region of the Nanweng'he River in the Da Xing'anling Mountains, the freeze-thaw characteristics of the permafrost were studied. Based on analysis of ground-temperature variation and hydrothermal transport characteristics, the thawing and freezing processes of the active layer were divided into three stages:(1) autumn-winter freezing,(2) winter freeze-up, and(3) spring-summer thawing. Variations in the soil temperature and moisture were analyzed during each stage of the freeze-thaw process, and the effects of the soil moisture and ground vegetation on the freeze-thaw are discussed in this paper. The study's results show that thawing in the active layer was unidirectional, while the ground freezing was bidirectional(upward from the bottom of the active layer and downward from the ground surface).During the annual freeze-thaw cycle, the migration of soil moisture had different characteristics at different stages. In general, during a freezing-thawing cycle, the soil-water molecules migrate downward, i.e., soil moisture transports from the entire active layer to the upper limit of the permafrost. In the meantime, freeze-thaw in the active layer can be significantly affected by the soil-moisture content and vegetation.     

青藏高原风火山地区冻土变化分析

基于对多年来风火山地区的多年冻土资料,研究了天然地区和路基下的冻土上限变化情况以及多年冻土的融化状态,并定量分析了进入多年冻土内的热状况。结果表明：风火山地区从20世纪70年代到90年代中期冻土上限下降,冻土出现退化现象,从90年代至今冻土趋于稳定；路基近地表地温明显高于对应天然地表下的地温,路基近地表经历的融化期长于对应天然地表,进入多年冻土区的热收支也呈现出吸热明显大于放热的周期性变化,进入多年冻土的热积累暂时以增高地温耗热为主,但随着冻土吸热量的逐年积累、冻土温度的不断升高,本区冻土可能发生强烈融化。     

Studies on frozen ground of China

Permafrost in China includes high latitude permafrost in northeastern China, alpine permafrost in northwestern China and high plateau permafrost on the Tibetan Plateau. The high altitude permafrost is about 92% of the total permafrost area in China. The south boundary or lower limit of the seasonally frozen ground is defined in accordance with the 0 oC isothermal line of mean air temperature in January, which is roughly corresponding to the line extending from the Qinling Mountains to the Huaihe River in the east and to the southeast boundary of the Tibetan Plateau in the west. Seasonal frozen ground occurs in large parts of the territory in northern China, including Northeast, North, Northwest China and the Tibetan Plateau except for permafrost regions, and accounting for about 55% of the land area of China. The southern limit of short-term frozen ground generally swings south and north along the 25o northern latitude line, occurring in the wet and warm subtropic monsoon climatic zone. Its area is less than 20% of the land area of China.     

中国冻土研究进展

Permafrost in China includes high latitude permafrost in northeastern China, alpine permafrost in northwestern China and high plateau permafrost on the Tibetan Plateau. The high altitude permafrost is about 92% of the total permafrost area in China. The south boundary or lower limit of the seasonally frozen ground is defined in accordance with the 0 ℃ isothermal line of mean air temperature in January, which is roughly corresponding to the line extending from the Qinling Mountains to the Huaihe River in the east and to the southeast boundary of the Tibetan Plateau in the west. Seasonal frozen ground occurs in large parts of the territory in northern China, including Northeast, North, Northwest China and the Tibetan Plateau except for permafrost regions, and accounting for about 55% of the land area of China. The southern limit of short-term frozen ground generally swings south and north along the 25° northern latitude line, occurring in the wet and warm subtropic monsoon climatic zone. Its area is less than 20% of the land area of China.     

Studies on frozen ground of China

1ThestatusoffrozengroundinChinaBased on previous studies, Zhou and Guo (1982) summarized the distribution characteristics of permafrost in China and indicated that the permafrost area in China is about 215×104 km2, in which about 163.4×104 km2 is on the Tibetan Plateau. After mapping and zonation of frozen ground in 1983, Xu and Wang suggested that the areas of permafrost, seasonally frozen ground and temporal frozen ground in China were 206.8×104 km2, 513.7×104 km2 and 229.1×104 km2 …     

疏勒河源区的多年冻土

疏勒河流域地处祁连山西段,气候极端干旱.2008年6月在疏勒河源区海拔3729-3890 m的不同地面、地形条件下在5个点上布设了10眼钻孔进行钻探勘察,并布设测温管定期监测地温.根据勘察和测温资料,确定了疏勒河流域内多年冻土下界高程在3750 m左右,查明河谷中松散地层以冲积层为主,多为粗颗粒土,多年冻土含冰量普遍较低.局地因素对多年冻土状态影响明显.其中坡度差异可以使地温相差0.5℃.坡向的差异可以使地温相差达1.0℃;地层水分含量对浅层地温的影响甚至超过坡向的影响;地面状态的差异,造成地温、活动层厚度等方面的显著差异.与祁连山中东部地区相比,疏勒河源区多年冻土几乎没有生态过程的影响,多年冻土形成和保存受气候驱动,基本上代表了一类干旱气候条件下的多年冻土特征.     

试论青藏高原多年冻土类型的划分

本文采用综合分析与主导因素相结合的原则，以干燥度作为主要指标并参考年降水量，年平均相对湿度及气温较差等，结合地形因素将青藏庙的多年冻土划分为：湿润，亚湿润，半干旱，干旱和极干旱５种类型，并对各类型代表性和冻土地区进行分别论述。     

New soil thermal stabilization systems for building fundaments in permafrost regions

This paper describes new building construction methods that utilize soil thermal stabilization regimes to compensate for negative environmental warming and anthropogenic factors that impair fundament stability. Based on long-standing research, the Fundamentstroyarkos Company (FSA) of Tyumen, Russia has developed four primary seasonally active cooling devices (SCDs) that maintain soil in the frozen state, which are now extensively used on oil and gas facilities located in cold regions of Russia. This paper reports on the testing and validation of these SCDs in experimental conditions. On this basis, designs and technologies for building bases and foundations on permafrost with use of soil thermal stabilization systems, using carbon dioxide as the heat-transfer agent, were developed.     

The tunnel through Torghatten,northern Norway: Landforms and discussion of formation

The tunnel through the mountain of Torghatten, in northern Norway, is generally regarded as a product of wave action. The tunnel is above the late Weichselian marine limit. Fresh looking polished bedrock that resembles subglacial ice-sculptured and meltwater forms, p-forms, occurs near the opening to the landward eastern side of the tunnel and inside. Most likely, the tunnel is a polygenetic formation. Storm action during deglaciations and also subglacial meltwater drainage and plastically sliding ice during glaciations have been active processes in the formation of the tunnel.