Impacts of groundwater flow on the evolution of a thermokarst lake in the permafrost–dominated region on the Qinghai–Tibet plateau

As a result of global warming induced permafrost degradation in recent decades, thermokarst lakes in the Qinghai–Tibet plateau (QTP) have been regulating local hydrological and ecological processes. Simulations with coupled moisture–heat numerical models in the Beiluhe basin (located in the hinterland of permafrost regions on the QTP) have provided insights into the interaction between groundwater flow and the freeze–thaw process. A total of 30 modified SUTRA scenarios were established to examine the effects of hydrodynamic forces, permeability, and climate on thermokarst lakes. The results indicate that the hydrodynamic condition variables regulate the permafrost degradation around the lakes. In case groundwater recharges to the lake, a low–temperature groundwater flow stimulates the expansion of the surrounding thawing regions through thermal convection. The thawing rate of the permafrost underlying the lake intensifies when groundwater is discharged from the lake. Under different permeability conditions, spatiotemporal variations in the active layer thickness significantly influence the occurrence of an open talik at the lake bottom. A warmer and wetter climate will inevitably lead to a sharp decrease in the upper limit of the surrounding permafrost, with a continual decrease in the duration of open talik events. Overall, our results underscore that comprehensive consideration of the relevant hydrologic processes is critical for improving the understanding of environmental and ecological changes in cold environments.     

季节性冰封热融浅湖水温原位观测及其分层特征

为探究季节性冰封浅湖热力学特征,于2010年10月至2013年7月对高原腹地一典型热融湖塘冰层生消、水/冰温及气象条件开展原位观测,分析了水温分布时间变化、温跃层以及冰生消对水温结构的影响。结果发现:冰面升华显著,贯穿整个冰期;水温日变化、季节变化和垂直结构受气温、大气辐射、风速、冰生消和湖底沉积层热贡献影响显著;在"无冰期-结冰前-冰生长期-冰融化期-融化后-无冰期"年循环过程中水温垂直结构分别呈现出"分层-翻转-逆温分层-逆温与正温共存-翻转-分层"的循环过程。分层期水温结构仅由上部混合层和温跃层构成,且偶因强风搅动而全湖翻转混合。可见,相比大中型湖泊,季节性冰封浅湖热力学结构差异显著。     

泛北极多年冻土及重大线性工程稳定性状况

泛北极是中国"一带一路"倡议的主要合作示范区域,已有的重大线性工程及新的基础设施建设均面临着与多年冻土相关的冻融灾害及工程病害问题.在全球气候变暖及人类活动增强的背景下,泛北极多年冻土主要呈现地温升高、活动层厚度增加趋势,且低温多年冻土地温升高更加明显,20世纪70年代以来年平均地温(MAGT)升温最高可达3℃;自北向...     

热融湖塘对多年冻土的热影响

以发育于青藏高原多年冻土区的红梁河热融湖塘为例,研究了热融湖塘附近土体的热状态变化特征,以及其对湖岸多年冻土上、下限影响情况.结果表明:热融湖塘侧向热影响改变了热融湖塘下部和周围区域土体的热状态,使周围土体热状态处于动平衡状态,既受热融湖塘的热影响,也受到周围多年冻土的热影响.热融湖塘对周围浅层土体温度和多年冻土上限影响相对较小,但热融湖塘热影响引起了湖岸边缘的多年冻土上限增大和地温升高.热融湖塘对深部土体温度和多年冻土厚度有较大的影响.     

Dating of two thermokarst lakes in Beiluhe Basin,Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Most of the thermokarst lakes are spread appreciably in Beiluhe Basin,Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,China,where ice-rich permafrost exists.Two typical thermokarst lakes with differing area and depth were examined to ascertain their age.We obtained lake-bottom samples of 50 cm length from lake BLH-A and 25 cm length from lake BLH-B.Environmental 137 Cs and 210 Pb and radiocarbon age dating techniques were applied to the 50 cm and 25 cm samples,respectively.The results indicate that the initiation of BLH-A is about 800-900 a B.P.,and approximately 1,450±30 a B.P.to 2,230±30 a B.P.for BLH-B.These results will provide scientific bases for sedimentological study and thermokarst activity in Beiluhe Basin.     

Effect of a thermokarst lake on soil physical properties and infiltration processes in the permafrost region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,China

Changes in the hydrological processes in alpine soil constitute one of the several key problems encountered with studying watershed hydrology and ecosystem stability against the background of global warming. A typically developing thermokarst lake was chosen as a subject for a study using model simulation based on observations of soil physical properties, infiltration processes, and soil moisture. The results showed that the selected thermokarst lake imposed certain changes on the soil infiltration processes and, with the degree of impact intensifying, the initial infiltration rate decreased. The greatest reduction was achieved in the area of moderate impact. However, the stable infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration gradually increased in the surface layer at a depth of 10 and 20 cm, both decreasing initially and then increasing, which is correlated significantly with soil textures. Moreover, the cumulative infiltration changed in line with steady infiltration rate. Based on a comparative analysis, the Horton model helps better understand the effect on the soil infiltration processes of the cold alpine meadow close to the chosen thermokarst lake. In conclusion, the formation of the thermokarst lake reduced the water holding capacity of the alpine meadow soil and caused the hydraulic conductivity to increase, resulting in the reduction of runoff capacity in the area of the thermokarst lake.     

青藏高原热融湖塘动态监测中高分辨率遥感数据处理方法研究

遥感技术由于能够快速、 宏观的获得研究区域的数据, 已成为青藏高原热融湖塘动态监测的重要技术手段. 基于野外现场调查和SPOT-5、 QuickBird两种高分辨率遥感卫星数据的特性分析, 结合影响青藏高原热融湖塘发育的一系列特征因素, 探讨了最适合于青藏高原热融湖塘动态监测的高分辨率遥感数据的纠正、 融合和信息提取方法. 应用该方法对2006-2009年间北麓河盆地北侧的红梁河至秀水河段公路沿线局部63 km²范围的热融湖塘进行了变化特征分析, 结果表明该区的热融湖塘个数和总面积在研究时段都有所增加, 其中湖塘由70个增加到75个, 湖塘总面积增量19.65%.     

长江源北麓河流域多年冻土区热融湖塘形成对高寒草甸土壤环境的影响

通过对长江源北麓河流域多年冻土区热融湖塘及湖塘影响周边条件下高寒草甸土壤理化性质的比较研究,结果表明:热融湖塘的形成对高寒草甸土壤环境产生了明显影响,热融湖塘形成对土壤质地、含水量、容重以及土壤养分等产生强烈改变,尤其表层土壤;土壤机质(SOM)、全氮(N)等化学物质和其他养分成分在不同退化的土壤中都有所改变.有机质和...     

Tracking hydrological responses of a thermokarst lake in the Old Crow Flats (Yukon Territory,Canada) to recent climate variability using aerial photographs and paleolimnological methods

Recent studies using remote sensing analysis of lake‐rich thermokarst landscapes have documented evidence of declining lake surface area in response to recent warming. However, images alone cannot identify whether these declines are due to increasing frequency of lake drainage events associated with accelerated thermokarst activity or to increasing evaporation in response to longer ice‐free season duration. Here, we explore the potential of combining aerial photograph time series with paleolimnological analyses to track changes in hydrological conditions of a thermokarst lake in the Old Crow Flats (OCF), Canada, and to identify their causes. Images show that the water level in lake OCF 48 declined markedly sometime between 1972 and 2001. In a sediment core from OCF 48, complacent stratigraphic profiles of several physical, geochemical, and biological parameters from ～1874–1967 indicate hydro‐limnological conditions were relatively stable. From ～1967–1989, declines in organic matter content, organic carbon isotope values, and pigment concentrations are interpreted to reflect an increase in supply of minerogenic sediment, and subsequent decline in aquatic productivity, caused by increased thermo‐erosion of shoreline soils. Lake expansion was likely caused by increased summer rainfall, as recorded by increased cellulose‐inferred lake‐water oxygen isotope compositions. Stratigraphic trends defining the lake expansion phase terminated at ～1989, which likely marks the year when the lake drained. Above‐average precipitation during the previous year probably raised the lake level and promoted further thermo‐erosion of the shoreline soils that caused the lake to drain. These are meteorological conditions that have led to other recent lake‐drainage events in the OCF. Thus, the decline in lake level, evident in the aerial photograph from 2001, is unlikely to have been caused by evaporation, but rather is a remnant of a drainage event that took place more than a decade earlier. After drainage, the lake began to refill, and most paleolimnological parameters approach levels that are similar to those during the stable phase. These findings indicate that combined use of aerial images and paleolimnological methods offers much promise for identifying the hydrological consequences of recent climatic variations on thermokarst lakes. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

从第三极到北极： 热喀斯特及其对碳循环影响研究进展

北半球多年冻土区储存着大量的土壤有机碳, 气候变暖加剧了多年冻土退化, 多年冻土退化最明显的特征是热喀斯特。热喀斯特会直接导致活动层及多年冻土层土壤有机质暴露, 并改变水文、 植被和土壤生物环境条件, 对生态系统碳循环具有重要影响。热喀斯特对碳循环的影响是评估多年冻土碳循环和气候变化关系不确定性的关键问题之一。然而, 在气候变暖背景下热喀斯特地貌的发育及其对碳循环影响有多大, 目前对这个问题仍然缺乏足够的认识。通过综合比较第三极和北极热喀斯特相关研究, 分析了第三极和北极地区热喀斯特地貌特征及其变化趋势, 阐述了热喀斯特对植被演替、 土壤碳损失和生态系统温室气体排放过程的影响, 并提出了未来热喀斯特研究可能遇到的挑战。认识热喀斯特碳循环过程, 是评估气候变化对多年冻土碳循环影响的关键环节, 有助于加强多年冻土区生态系统碳循环与气候变暖之间反馈关系的认知。