A new map of permafrost distribution on the Tibetan Plateau
The Tibetan Plateau (TP) has the largest areas of permafrost terrain in the mid- and low-latitude regions of the world. Some permafrost distribution maps have been compiled but, due to limited data sources, ambiguous criteria, inadequate validation, and deficiency of high-quality spatial data se...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2017-11-01
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| Series: | The Cryosphere |
| Online Access: | https://www.the-cryosphere.net/11/2527/2017/tc-11-2527-2017.pdf |
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| author | D. Zou D. Zou L. Zhao Y. Sheng J. Chen G. Hu T. Wu J. Wu C. Xie X. Wu Q. Pang W. Wang E. Du W. Li G. Liu J. Li Y. Qin Y. Qiao Z. Wang J. Shi G. Cheng |
| author_facet | D. Zou D. Zou L. Zhao Y. Sheng J. Chen G. Hu T. Wu J. Wu C. Xie X. Wu Q. Pang W. Wang E. Du W. Li G. Liu J. Li Y. Qin Y. Qiao Z. Wang J. Shi G. Cheng |
| author_sort | D. Zou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Tibetan Plateau (TP) has the largest areas of permafrost
terrain in the mid- and low-latitude regions of the world. Some permafrost
distribution maps have been compiled but, due to limited data sources,
ambiguous criteria, inadequate validation, and deficiency of high-quality
spatial data sets, there is high uncertainty in the mapping of the permafrost
distribution on the TP. We generated a new permafrost map based on freezing
and thawing indices from modified Moderate Resolution Imaging
Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land surface temperatures (LSTs) and validated this
map using various ground-based data sets. The soil thermal properties of five
soil types across the TP were estimated according to an empirical equation
and soil properties (moisture content and bulk density). The temperature at
the top of permafrost (TTOP) model was applied to simulate the permafrost
distribution. Permafrost, seasonally frozen ground, and unfrozen ground
covered areas of 1.06 × 10<sup>6</sup> km<sup>2</sup>
(0.97–1.15 × 10<sup>6</sup> km<sup>2</sup>, 90 % confidence interval)
(40 %), 1.46 × 10<sup>6</sup> (56 %), and
0.03 × 10<sup>6</sup> km<sup>2</sup> (1 %), respectively, excluding
glaciers and lakes. Ground-based observations of the permafrost distribution
across the five investigated regions (IRs, located in the transition zones of
the permafrost and seasonally frozen ground) and three highway transects
(across the entire permafrost regions from north to south) were used to
validate the model. Validation results showed that the kappa coefficient
varied from 0.38 to 0.78 with a mean of 0.57 for the five IRs and 0.62 to
0.74 with a mean of 0.68 within the three transects. Compared with earlier
studies, the TTOP modelling results show greater accuracy. The results
provide more detailed information on the permafrost distribution and basic
data for use in future research on the Tibetan Plateau permafrost. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T23:42:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6813a59936b94d948019555ddaaded8f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1994-0416 1994-0424 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T23:42:44Z |
| publishDate | 2017-11-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Cryosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-6813a59936b94d948019555ddaaded8f2022-12-21T18:46:11ZengCopernicus PublicationsThe Cryosphere1994-04161994-04242017-11-01112527254210.5194/tc-11-2527-2017A new map of permafrost distribution on the Tibetan PlateauD. Zou0D. Zou1L. Zhao2Y. Sheng3J. Chen4G. Hu5T. Wu6J. Wu7C. Xie8X. Wu9Q. Pang10W. Wang11E. Du12W. Li13G. Liu14J. Li15Y. Qin16Y. Qiao17Z. Wang18J. Shi19G. Cheng20Cryosphere Research Station on Qinghai–Xizang Plateau, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco–Environment and Resources (NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering, NIEER, CAS, Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaCryosphere Research Station on Qinghai–Xizang Plateau, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco–Environment and Resources (NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering, NIEER, CAS, Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering, NIEER, CAS, Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaCryosphere Research Station on Qinghai–Xizang Plateau, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco–Environment and Resources (NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaCryosphere Research Station on Qinghai–Xizang Plateau, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco–Environment and Resources (NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering, NIEER, CAS, Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaCryosphere Research Station on Qinghai–Xizang Plateau, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco–Environment and Resources (NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaCryosphere Research Station on Qinghai–Xizang Plateau, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco–Environment and Resources (NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaCryosphere Research Station on Qinghai–Xizang Plateau, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco–Environment and Resources (NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaCryosphere Research Station on Qinghai–Xizang Plateau, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco–Environment and Resources (NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaCryosphere Research Station on Qinghai–Xizang Plateau, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco–Environment and Resources (NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaCryosphere Research Station on Qinghai–Xizang Plateau, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco–Environment and Resources (NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaCryosphere Research Station on Qinghai–Xizang Plateau, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco–Environment and Resources (NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaCryosphere Research Station on Qinghai–Xizang Plateau, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco–Environment and Resources (NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaCryosphere Research Station on Qinghai–Xizang Plateau, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco–Environment and Resources (NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaCryosphere Research Station on Qinghai–Xizang Plateau, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco–Environment and Resources (NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaCryosphere Research Station on Qinghai–Xizang Plateau, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco–Environment and Resources (NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaCryosphere Research Station on Qinghai–Xizang Plateau, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco–Environment and Resources (NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering, NIEER, CAS, Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaThe Tibetan Plateau (TP) has the largest areas of permafrost terrain in the mid- and low-latitude regions of the world. Some permafrost distribution maps have been compiled but, due to limited data sources, ambiguous criteria, inadequate validation, and deficiency of high-quality spatial data sets, there is high uncertainty in the mapping of the permafrost distribution on the TP. We generated a new permafrost map based on freezing and thawing indices from modified Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land surface temperatures (LSTs) and validated this map using various ground-based data sets. The soil thermal properties of five soil types across the TP were estimated according to an empirical equation and soil properties (moisture content and bulk density). The temperature at the top of permafrost (TTOP) model was applied to simulate the permafrost distribution. Permafrost, seasonally frozen ground, and unfrozen ground covered areas of 1.06 × 10<sup>6</sup> km<sup>2</sup> (0.97–1.15 × 10<sup>6</sup> km<sup>2</sup>, 90 % confidence interval) (40 %), 1.46 × 10<sup>6</sup> (56 %), and 0.03 × 10<sup>6</sup> km<sup>2</sup> (1 %), respectively, excluding glaciers and lakes. Ground-based observations of the permafrost distribution across the five investigated regions (IRs, located in the transition zones of the permafrost and seasonally frozen ground) and three highway transects (across the entire permafrost regions from north to south) were used to validate the model. Validation results showed that the kappa coefficient varied from 0.38 to 0.78 with a mean of 0.57 for the five IRs and 0.62 to 0.74 with a mean of 0.68 within the three transects. Compared with earlier studies, the TTOP modelling results show greater accuracy. The results provide more detailed information on the permafrost distribution and basic data for use in future research on the Tibetan Plateau permafrost.https://www.the-cryosphere.net/11/2527/2017/tc-11-2527-2017.pdf |
| spellingShingle | D. Zou D. Zou L. Zhao Y. Sheng J. Chen G. Hu T. Wu J. Wu C. Xie X. Wu Q. Pang W. Wang E. Du W. Li G. Liu J. Li Y. Qin Y. Qiao Z. Wang J. Shi G. Cheng A new map of permafrost distribution on the Tibetan Plateau The Cryosphere |
| title | A new map of permafrost distribution on the Tibetan Plateau |
| title_full | A new map of permafrost distribution on the Tibetan Plateau |
| title_fullStr | A new map of permafrost distribution on the Tibetan Plateau |
| title_full_unstemmed | A new map of permafrost distribution on the Tibetan Plateau |
| title_short | A new map of permafrost distribution on the Tibetan Plateau |
| title_sort | new map of permafrost distribution on the tibetan plateau |
| url | https://www.the-cryosphere.net/11/2527/2017/tc-11-2527-2017.pdf |
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