Links between seasonal suprapermafrost groundwater, the hydrothermal change of the active layer, and river runoff in alpine permafrost watersheds
<p>The seasonal dynamic of the suprapermafrost groundwater significantly affects the runoff generation and confluence in permafrost basins and is a leading issue that must urgently be addressed in hydrological research in cold and alpine regions. In this study, the seasonal dynamic process of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |
| Online Access: | https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/28/973/2024/hess-28-973-2024.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797293822785355776 |
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| author | J. Qin J. Qin Y. Ding Y. Ding F. Shi F. Shi J. Cui J. Cui Y. Chang Y. Chang T. Han T. Han Q. Zhao Q. Zhao |
| author_facet | J. Qin J. Qin Y. Ding Y. Ding F. Shi F. Shi J. Cui J. Cui Y. Chang Y. Chang T. Han T. Han Q. Zhao Q. Zhao |
| author_sort | J. Qin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>The seasonal dynamic of the suprapermafrost groundwater significantly affects the runoff generation and confluence in permafrost basins and is a leading issue that must urgently be addressed in hydrological research in cold and alpine regions. In this study, the seasonal dynamic process of the suprapermafrost groundwater level (SGL), vertical gradient changes of soil temperature (ST), moisture content in the active layer (AL), and river level changes were analyzed at four permafrost watersheds in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau using comparative analysis and the nonlinear correlation evaluation method. The impact of freeze–thaw processes on seasonal SGL and the links between SGL and surface runoff were also investigated. The SGL process in a hydrological year can be divided into four periods: (A) a rapid falling period (October to mid-November), (B) a stable low-water period (late November to May), (C) a rapid rising period (approximately June), and (D) a stable high-water period (July to September), which synchronously respond to seasonal variations in soil moisture and temperature in the AL. The characteristics and causes of SGL changes significantly varied during these four periods. The freeze–thaw process of the AL regulated SGL and surface runoff in permafrost watersheds. During period A, with rapid AL freezing, the ST had a dominant impact on the SGL. In period B, the AL was entirely frozen due to the stably low ST, while the SGL dropped to the lowest level with small changes. During period C, ST in the deep soil layers of AL (below 50 cm depth) significantly impacted the SGL (nonlinear correlation coefficient <span class="inline-formula"><i>R</i><sup>2</sup></span> <span class="inline-formula"><i>></i></span> 0.74, <span class="inline-formula"><i>P</i> <i><</i> 0.05</span>), whereas the SGL change in the shallow soil layer (0–50 cm depth) showed a closer association with soil moisture content. Rainfall was the major cause for the stable high SGL during period D. In addition, the SGLs in periods C and D were closely linked to the retreat and flood processes of river runoff. The SGL contributed approximately 57.0 %–65.8 % of the river runoff changes in the period D. These findings will help to facilitate future hydrological research in the permafrost basins and the development and utilization of water resources in cold and alpine regions.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T21:21:25Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1027-5606 1607-7938 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T21:21:25Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
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| series | Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-e6010b3448a24cd58ec13580ce3a0db42024-02-27T12:18:06ZengCopernicus PublicationsHydrology and Earth System Sciences1027-56061607-79382024-02-012897398710.5194/hess-28-973-2024Links between seasonal suprapermafrost groundwater, the hydrothermal change of the active layer, and river runoff in alpine permafrost watershedsJ. Qin0J. Qin1Y. Ding2Y. Ding3F. Shi4F. Shi5J. Cui6J. Cui7Y. Chang8Y. Chang9T. Han10T. Han11Q. Zhao12Q. Zhao13State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaKey Laboratory of Ecohydrology Inland River Basin, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, ChinaKey Laboratory of Ecohydrology Inland River Basin, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China<p>The seasonal dynamic of the suprapermafrost groundwater significantly affects the runoff generation and confluence in permafrost basins and is a leading issue that must urgently be addressed in hydrological research in cold and alpine regions. In this study, the seasonal dynamic process of the suprapermafrost groundwater level (SGL), vertical gradient changes of soil temperature (ST), moisture content in the active layer (AL), and river level changes were analyzed at four permafrost watersheds in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau using comparative analysis and the nonlinear correlation evaluation method. The impact of freeze–thaw processes on seasonal SGL and the links between SGL and surface runoff were also investigated. The SGL process in a hydrological year can be divided into four periods: (A) a rapid falling period (October to mid-November), (B) a stable low-water period (late November to May), (C) a rapid rising period (approximately June), and (D) a stable high-water period (July to September), which synchronously respond to seasonal variations in soil moisture and temperature in the AL. The characteristics and causes of SGL changes significantly varied during these four periods. The freeze–thaw process of the AL regulated SGL and surface runoff in permafrost watersheds. During period A, with rapid AL freezing, the ST had a dominant impact on the SGL. In period B, the AL was entirely frozen due to the stably low ST, while the SGL dropped to the lowest level with small changes. During period C, ST in the deep soil layers of AL (below 50 cm depth) significantly impacted the SGL (nonlinear correlation coefficient <span class="inline-formula"><i>R</i><sup>2</sup></span> <span class="inline-formula"><i>></i></span> 0.74, <span class="inline-formula"><i>P</i> <i><</i> 0.05</span>), whereas the SGL change in the shallow soil layer (0–50 cm depth) showed a closer association with soil moisture content. Rainfall was the major cause for the stable high SGL during period D. In addition, the SGLs in periods C and D were closely linked to the retreat and flood processes of river runoff. The SGL contributed approximately 57.0 %–65.8 % of the river runoff changes in the period D. These findings will help to facilitate future hydrological research in the permafrost basins and the development and utilization of water resources in cold and alpine regions.</p>https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/28/973/2024/hess-28-973-2024.pdf |
| spellingShingle | J. Qin J. Qin Y. Ding Y. Ding F. Shi F. Shi J. Cui J. Cui Y. Chang Y. Chang T. Han T. Han Q. Zhao Q. Zhao Links between seasonal suprapermafrost groundwater, the hydrothermal change of the active layer, and river runoff in alpine permafrost watersheds Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |
| title | Links between seasonal suprapermafrost groundwater, the hydrothermal change of the active layer, and river runoff in alpine permafrost watersheds |
| title_full | Links between seasonal suprapermafrost groundwater, the hydrothermal change of the active layer, and river runoff in alpine permafrost watersheds |
| title_fullStr | Links between seasonal suprapermafrost groundwater, the hydrothermal change of the active layer, and river runoff in alpine permafrost watersheds |
| title_full_unstemmed | Links between seasonal suprapermafrost groundwater, the hydrothermal change of the active layer, and river runoff in alpine permafrost watersheds |
| title_short | Links between seasonal suprapermafrost groundwater, the hydrothermal change of the active layer, and river runoff in alpine permafrost watersheds |
| title_sort | links between seasonal suprapermafrost groundwater the hydrothermal change of the active layer and river runoff in alpine permafrost watersheds |
| url | https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/28/973/2024/hess-28-973-2024.pdf |
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