Permafrost Hydrology of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: A Review of Processes and Modeling
Permafrost extends 40% of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), a region which contains the headwaters of numerous major rivers in Asia. As an aquiclude, permafrost substantially controls surface runoff and its hydraulic connection with groundwater. The freeze–thaw cycle in the active layer significantly...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Earth Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2020.576838/full |
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| author | Hongkai Gao Hongkai Gao Jingjing Wang Yuzhong Yang Xicai Pan Yongjian Ding Yongjian Ding Zheng Duan |
| author_facet | Hongkai Gao Hongkai Gao Jingjing Wang Yuzhong Yang Xicai Pan Yongjian Ding Yongjian Ding Zheng Duan |
| author_sort | Hongkai Gao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Permafrost extends 40% of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), a region which contains the headwaters of numerous major rivers in Asia. As an aquiclude, permafrost substantially controls surface runoff and its hydraulic connection with groundwater. The freeze–thaw cycle in the active layer significantly impacts soil water movement direction, velocity, storage capacity, and hydraulic conductivity. Under the accelerating warming on the QTP, permafrost degradation is drastically altering regional and even continental hydrological regimes, attracting the attention of hydrologists, climatologists, ecologists, engineers, and decision-makers. A systematic review of permafrost hydrological processes and modeling on the QTP is still lacking, however, leaving a number of knowledge gaps. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of permafrost hydrological processes and applications of some permafrost hydrological models of varying complexity at different scales on the QTP. We then discuss the current challenges and future opportunities, including observations and data, the understanding of processes, and model realism. The goal of this review is to provide a clear picture of where we are now and to describe future challenges and opportunities. We concluded that more efforts are needed to conduct long-term field measurements, employ more advanced observation technologies, and develop flexible and modular models to deepen our understanding of permafrost hydrological processes and to improve our ability to predict the future responses of permafrost hydrology to climate changes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T12:24:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d8d05ddbe68f4c79a4231c2c0f3ad3b5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-6463 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T12:24:28Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Earth Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-d8d05ddbe68f4c79a4231c2c0f3ad3b52022-12-21T19:40:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632021-01-01810.3389/feart.2020.576838576838Permafrost Hydrology of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: A Review of Processes and ModelingHongkai Gao0Hongkai Gao1Jingjing Wang2Yuzhong Yang3Xicai Pan4Yongjian Ding5Yongjian Ding6Zheng Duan7Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education of China), East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaSchool of Geographical Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaSchool of Geographical Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, ChinaChina-Pakistan Joint Research Center on Earth Science, CAS-HEC, Islamabad, PakistanDepartment of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, Lund, SwedenPermafrost extends 40% of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), a region which contains the headwaters of numerous major rivers in Asia. As an aquiclude, permafrost substantially controls surface runoff and its hydraulic connection with groundwater. The freeze–thaw cycle in the active layer significantly impacts soil water movement direction, velocity, storage capacity, and hydraulic conductivity. Under the accelerating warming on the QTP, permafrost degradation is drastically altering regional and even continental hydrological regimes, attracting the attention of hydrologists, climatologists, ecologists, engineers, and decision-makers. A systematic review of permafrost hydrological processes and modeling on the QTP is still lacking, however, leaving a number of knowledge gaps. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of permafrost hydrological processes and applications of some permafrost hydrological models of varying complexity at different scales on the QTP. We then discuss the current challenges and future opportunities, including observations and data, the understanding of processes, and model realism. The goal of this review is to provide a clear picture of where we are now and to describe future challenges and opportunities. We concluded that more efforts are needed to conduct long-term field measurements, employ more advanced observation technologies, and develop flexible and modular models to deepen our understanding of permafrost hydrological processes and to improve our ability to predict the future responses of permafrost hydrology to climate changes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2020.576838/fullpermafrostfrozen soilQinghai-Tibet Plateaufreeze–thaw processpermafrost hydrological model |
| spellingShingle | Hongkai Gao Hongkai Gao Jingjing Wang Yuzhong Yang Xicai Pan Yongjian Ding Yongjian Ding Zheng Duan Permafrost Hydrology of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: A Review of Processes and Modeling Frontiers in Earth Science permafrost frozen soil Qinghai-Tibet Plateau freeze–thaw process permafrost hydrological model |
| title | Permafrost Hydrology of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: A Review of Processes and Modeling |
| title_full | Permafrost Hydrology of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: A Review of Processes and Modeling |
| title_fullStr | Permafrost Hydrology of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: A Review of Processes and Modeling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Permafrost Hydrology of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: A Review of Processes and Modeling |
| title_short | Permafrost Hydrology of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: A Review of Processes and Modeling |
| title_sort | permafrost hydrology of the qinghai tibet plateau a review of processes and modeling |
| topic | permafrost frozen soil Qinghai-Tibet Plateau freeze–thaw process permafrost hydrological model |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2020.576838/full |
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