Evolution of permafrost in Northeast Chinasince the Late Pleistocene

In Northeast China, permafrost advanced and retreated several times under the influences of fluctuating paleo-climatesand paleo-environments since the Late Pleistocene. During the last 60 years, many new data were obtained and studies wereconducted on the evolution of permafrost in Northeast China, but so far no systematic summary and review have been made.Based on sedimentary sequences, remains of past permafrost, paleo-flora and -fauna records, and dating data, permafrostevolution since the Late Pleistocene has been analyzed and reconstructed in this paper. Paleo-temperatures reconstructedfrom the remains of past permafrost and those from paleo-flora and -fauna are compared, and thus the southern limitof permafrost （SLP） in each climate period is inferred by the relationship of the permafrost distribution and the meanannual air/ground temperatures （MAAT/MAGT）. Thus, the evolutionary history of permafrost is here divided into fivestages： （1） the Late Pleistocene （Last Glaciation, or LG） （65 to 10–8.5 ka）, the Last Glaciation Maximum （LGM, 21–13 ka）in particular, the coldest period in the latest history with a cooling of about 6~10 °C, characterized by extensive occurrencesof glaciation, flourishing Mammathas-Coelodonta Faunal Complex （MCFC）, widespread aeolian deposits, and significantsea level lowering, and permafrost greatly expanded southwards almost to the coastal plains （37°N–41°N）; （2） the HoloceneMegathermal Period （HMP, 8.5–7.0 to 4.0–3.0 ka）, 3~5 °C warmer than today, permafrost retreated to about 52°N; （3） theLate Holocene Cold Period （Neoglaciation） （4.0–3.0 to 1.0–0.5 ka）, a cooling of 1~3 °C, some earlier thawed permafrost wasrefrozen or attached, and the SLP invaded southwards to 46°N; （4） the Little Ice Age （LIA, 500 to 100–150 a）, the latestcold period with significant permafrost expansion; and （5） climate warming since the last century, during which NortheastChina has undergone extensive permafrost degradation. The frequent and substantial expansions and retreats of permafrosthave greatly impacted cold-region environments in Northeast China. North of the SLP during the HMP, or in the presentcontinuous permafrost zone, the existing permafrost was largely formed during the LG and was later overlapped by thepermafrost formed in the Neoglaciation. To the south, it was formed in the Neoglaciation. However, many aspects ofpermafrost evolution still await further investigations, such as data integration, numerical reconstruction, and merging ofChinese permafrost history with those of bordering regions as well as collaboration with related disciplines. Of these, studies on the evolution and degradation of permafrost during the past 150 years and its hydrological, ecological, and environmentalimpacts should be prioritized.

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.

Evolution and changes of permafrost on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during the Late Quaternary

Due to the uplift of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau （QTP）, the cryosphere gradually developed on the higher mountain summits after the Neocene, becoming widespread during the Late Quaternary. During this time, permafrost on the QTP experienced repeated expansion and degradation. Based on the remains and cross-correlation with other proxy records such as those from glacial landforms, ice-core and paleogeography, the evolution and changes of permafrost and environmental changes on the QTP during the past 150,000 years were deduced and are presented in this paper.At least four obvious cycles of the extensive and intensive development, expansion and decay of permafrost occurred during the periods of 150-130, 80-50, 30-14 and after 10.8 ka B.P.. Ehiring the Holocene, fluctuating climatic environ-ments affected the permafrost on the QTP, and the peripheral mountains experienced six periods of discernible permafrost changes： （1） Stable development of permafrost in the early Holocene （10.8 to 8.5-7.0 ka B.P.）; （2） Intensive permafrost degradation during the Holocene Megathermal Period （HMP, from 8.5-7.0 to 4.0-3.0 ka B.P.）; （3） Permafrost expansion during the early Neoglacial period （ca. 4,000-3,000 to 1,000 a B.P.）; （4） Relative degradation during the Medieval Warm Period （MWP,from 1,000 to 500 a B.R）; （5） Expansion of permafrost during the Little Ice Age （LIA,from 500 to 10.a B.P.）; （6） Observed and predicted degradation of permafrost during the 20th and 21st century. Each period differed greatly in paleoclimate, paleoenvironment, and permafrost distribution, thickness, areal extent, and ground temperatures, as well as in the development of periglacial phenomena. Statistically, closer dating of the onset permafrost formation, more identi-fication of permafrost remains with richer proxy information about paleoenvironment, and more dating information enable higher resolution for paleo-permafrost reconstruction. Based on the scenarios of persistent climate warming of 2 2 -2 .6 °C in the next 50 years, and in combination of the monitored trends of climate and permafrost changes, and model predictions suggest an accelerated regional degradation of plateau pemafrost. Therefore,during the first half of the 21st century, profound changes in the stability of alpine ecosystems and hydro（geo）logical environments in the source regions of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers may occur. The foundation stability of key engineering infrastructures and sustainable eco-nomic development in cold regions on the QTP may be affected.

Study of seasonal snow cover influencing the ground thermal regime on western flank of Da Xing'anling Mountains,northeastern China

Although many studies relevant to snow cover and permafrost have focused on alpine, arctic, and subarctic areas, there is still a lack of understanding of the influences of seasonal snow cover on the thermal regime of the soils in permafrost regions in the mid-latitudes and boreal regions, such as that on the westem flank of the Da Xing＇anling （Hinggan） Mountains, northeastern China. This paper gives a detailed analysis on meteorological data series from 2001 to 2010 provided by the Gen＇he Weather Station, which is located in a talik of discontinuous permafrost zone and with sparse meadow on the observation field. It is inferred that snow cover is important for the ground thermal regime in the middle Da Xing＇anling Mountains. Snow cover of 10-cm in thickness and five to six months in duration （generally November to next March） can reduce the heat loss from the ground to the atmosphere by 28%, and by 71% if the snow depth increases to 36 cm. Moreover, the occurrence of snow cover resulted in mean annual ground surface temperatures 4.7-8.2℃ higher than the mean annual air temperatures recorded at the Gen＇he Weather Station, The beginning date for stable snow cover establishment （SE date） and the initial snow depth （SDi） also had a great influences on the ground freezing process. Heavy snowfall before ground surface freeze-up could postpone and retard the freezing process in Gen＇he. As a result, the duration of ground freezing was shortened by at least 20 days and the maximum depth of frost penetration was as much as 90 cm shallower.

Uncertainty analysis of runoff and sedimentation in a forested watershed using sequential uncertainty fitting method

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool （SWAT） was implemented in a small forested watershed of the Soan River Basin innorthern Pakistan through application of the sequential uncertainty fitting （SUFI-2） method to investigate the associateduncertainty in runoff and sediment load estimation. The model was calibrated for a 10-year period （1991–2000） with aninitial 4-year warm-up period （1987–1990）, and was validated for the subsequent 10-year period （2001–2010）. Themodel evaluation indices R2 （the coefficient of determination）, NS （the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency）, and PBIAS （percentbias） for stream flows simulation indicated that there was a good agreement between the measured and simulated flows.To assess the uncertainty in the model outputs, p-factor （a 95% prediction uncertainty, 95PPU） and r-factors （averagewideness width of the 95PPU band divided by the standard deviation of the observed values） were taken into account.The 95PPU band bracketed 72% of the observed data during the calibration and 67% during the validation. The r-factorwas 0.81 during the calibration and 0.68 during the validation. For monthly sediment yield, the model evaluation coefficients（R2 and NS） for the calibration were computed as 0.81 and 0.79, respectively; for validation, they were 0.78and 0.74, respectively. Meanwhile, the 95PPU covered more than 60% of the observed sediment data during calibrationand validation. Moreover, improved model prediction and parameter estimation were observed with the increasednumber of iterations. However, the model performance became worse after the fourth iterations due to an unreasonableparameter estimation. Overall results indicated the applicability of the SWAT model with moderate levels of uncertaintyduring the calibration and high levels during the validation. Thus, this calibrated SWAT model can be used for assessmentof water balance components, climate change studies, and land use management practices.

Climate transformation to warm-humid and its effect on river runoff in the source region of the Yellow River

The change characteristics and trends of the regional climate in the source region of the Yellow River, and the response of runoff to climate change, are analyzed based on observational data of air temperature, precipitation, and runoff at 10 main hydrological and weather stations in the region. Our results show that a strong signal of climate shift from warm-dry to warm-humid in the western parts of northwestern China （Xinjiang） and the western Hexi Corridor of Gansu Province occurred in the late 1980s, and a same signal of climate change occurred in the mid-2000s in the source region of the Yellow River located in the eastern part of northwestern China. This climate changeover has led to a rapid increase in rainfall and stream runoff in the latter region. In most of the years since 2004 the average annual precipitation in the source region of the Yellow River has been greater than the long-term average annual value, and after 2007 the runoff measured at all of the hydrologic sections on the main channel of the Yellow River in the source region has also consistently exceeded the long-term average annual because of rainfall increase. It is difficult to determine the prospects of future climate change until additional observations and research are conducted on the rate and temporal and spatial extents of climate change in the region. Nevertheless, we predict that the climate shift from warm-dry to warm-humid in the source region of the Yellow River is very likely to be in the decadal time scale, which means a warming and rainy climate in the source region of the Yellow River will continue in the coming decades.

Cold-region environments along the China-Russia Crude Oil Pipeline and their management

The cold-region eco-environments along the China-Russia Crude Oil Pipeline (CRCOP) in northern Northeast China are in disequilibrium due to the combined influences of pronounced climate warming and intensive anthropogenic activities.This is evidenced by the sharp areal reduction and northward shifting of the boreal forests,shrinking of wetlands,enhancing of soil erosion,accelerating degradation of permafrost and deteriorating of cold-region eco-environments.The degradation of permafrost plays an important role as an internal drive in the eco-environmental changes.Many components of the cold-region eco-environments,including frozen ground,forests,wetlands and peatlands,forest fires and 'heating island effect' of rapid urbanization,are interdependent,interactive,and integrated in the boreal ecosystems.The construction and long-term operation of the CRCOP system will inevitably disturb the cold-region environments along the pipeline.Therefore,a mandatory and carefully-elaborated environ-mental impact statement is indispensable for the proper mitigation of the ensued adverse impacts.Proper management,effective protection and practical rehabilitation of the damaged cold-region environments are a daunting,costly and long-term commitment.The recommended measures for protection and restoration of permafrost eco-environments along the pipeline route include adequate investigation,assessment and monitoring of permafrost and cold-region environments,compliance of pipeline construction and operation codes for environmental management,proper and timely re-vegetation,returning the cultivated lands to forests and grasslands,and effective mitigation of forest fire hazards.

Climate warming over 1961–2019 and impacts on permafrost zonation in Northeast China

In boreal forest ecosystems, permafrost and forest types are mutually interdependent;permafrost degradation impacts forest ecosystem structure and functions. The Xing’an permafrost in Northeast China is on the southern margin of the Eastern Asia latitudinal permafrost body. Under a warming climate, permafrost undergoes rapid and extensive degradation. In this study, the frost-number (Fn) model based on air temperatures and ground surface temperatures was used to predict the distribution of the Xing’an permafrost, and, temporal and spatial changes in air and ground-surface temperatures from 1961 to 2019 are analyzed. The results show that Northeast China has experienced a rapid and substantial climate warming over the past 60 years. The rises in mean annual air and mean annual ground-surface temperatures were higher in permafrost zones than those in the seasonal frost zone. The frost numbers of air and ground-surface temperatures were calculated for determining the southern limit of latitudinal permafrost and for permafrost zonation. The southern limits of discontinuous permafrost, sporadic permafrost, and latitudinal permafrost moved northward significantly. According to the air-temperature frost-number criteria for permafrost zoning, compared with that in the 1960s, the extent of Xing’an permafrost in Northeast China had decreased by 40.6% by the 2010s. With an average rate of increase in mean annual air temperatures at 0.03 ℃ a^(−1), the extent of permafrost in Northeast China will decrease to 26.42 × 10^(4) by 2020, 14.69 × 10^(4) by 2040 and to 11.24 × 10^(4) km^(2) by 2050. According to the ground-surface temperature frost-number criteria, the southern limit of latitudinal permafrost was at the 0.463. From the 1960s to the 2010s, the extent of latitudinal permafrost declined significantly. Due to the nature of the ecosystem-protected Xing’an-Baikal permafrost, management and protection (e.g., more prudent and effective forest fire management and proper logging of forests) of the Xing’an permafrost eco-environment should be strengthened.

Seasonal variations in temperature sensitivity of soil respiration in a larch forest in the Northern Daxing’an Mountains in Northeast China

Temperature sensitivity of respiration of forest soils is important for its responses to climate warming and for the accurate assessment of soil carbon budget. The sensitivity of temperature (T_(i)) to soil respiration rate (R_(s)), and Q_(10) defined by e^(10(lnRs−lna)/Ti) has been used extensively for indicating the sensitivity of soil respiration. The soil respiration under a larch (Larix gmelinii) forest in the northern Daxing’an Mountains, Northeast China was observed in situ from April to September, 2019 using the dynamic chamber method. Air temperatures (T_(air)), soil surface temperatures (T_(0cm)), soil temperatures at depths of 5 and 10 cm (T_(5cm) and T_(10cm), respectively), and soil-surface water vapor concentrations were monitored at the same time. The results show a significant monthly variability in soil respiration rate in the growing season (April–September). The Q_(10) at the surface and at depths of 5 and 10 cm was estimated at 5.6, 6.3, and 7.2, respectively. The Q_(10@10 cm) over the period of surface soil thawing (Q_(10@10 cm, thaw) = 36.89) were significantly higher than that of the growing season (Q_(10@10 cm, growth )= 3.82). Furthermore, the Rs in the early stage of near-surface soil thawing and in the middle of the growing season is more sensitive to changes in soil temperatures. Soil temperature is thus the dominant factor for season variations in soil respiration, but rainfall is the main controller for short-term fluctuations in respiration. Thus, the higher sensitivity of soil respiration to temperature (Q_(10)) is found in the middle part of the growing season. The monthly and seasonal Q_(10) values better reflect the responsiveness of soil respiration to changes in hydrometeorology and ground freeze-thaw processes. This study may help assess the stability of the soil carbon pool and strength of carbon fluxes in the larch forested permafrost regions in the northern Daxing’an Mountains.

Possible controlling factors in the development of seasonal sand wedges on the Ordos Plateau,North China

Wedge-like structures filled with silty sand penetrate Quaternary fluvial and aeolian sediments and, in places, Tertiary bedrock on the Ordos Plateau, North China. The wedges reflect thermal contraction cracking of either permafrost or seasonal frost during the Late Pleistocene and early Holocene. Wedges of about 1 m in depth form polygonal nets of 2-3 m in diameter(type B). They contrast with wedges of 3-4 m in depth that form polygons of 10-15 m in diameter(type A).This review focuses upon the highly variable size of the inferred polygon nets and discusses the problem of differentiating between seasonally and perennially frozen ground, or between seasonal frost and permafrost.

δ18O,δD and d-excess signatures of ground ice in permafrost in the Beiluhe Basin on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,China

In this paper, stable isotope （δ18O, δD） investigations were completed in ground ice from a deep borehole in the Beiluhe Basin on northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to unravel the isotopic variations of ground ice and their possible source water. The δ18O and δD of ground ice show distinctive characteristics compared with precipitation and surface water. The near-surface ground ice is highly enriched in heavier isotopes （δ18O and δD）, which were gradually depleted from top to bottom along the profile. It is suggestive of different origin and ice formation process. According to isotopic variations, the ice profile was divided into three sections： the near-surface ground ice at 2.5 m is frozen by the active-layer water which suffered evaporation. It is possible that ground ice between 3 and 4.2 m is recharged by the infiltration of snowmelt. From 5 to 6 m, the ground ice show complex origin and formation processes. Isotopic variations from 6 to 11.1 m and 20.55 m indicate different replenishment water. The calculated slope of freezing line （S=6.4） is larger than the experimental value （5.76）, and is suggestive of complex origin and formation process of ground ice.

Numerical evaluation of the effectiveness of frost heave mitigation strategies for chilled arctic gas pipelines

To prevent the thawing of ice-rich permafrost,it is suggested that gas should be transported in a chilled state(below the freezing temperature)in pipelines buried in permafrost.However,frost heave occurs when water migrates towards the chilled pipeline and ice lenses grow underneath the pipe.This might endanger the integrity of the pipeline and the environment as well.Therefore,innovative frost heave mitigation measures are required when designing the pipeline,especially those sections in discontinuous permafrost or near the compressor stations.The ground temperature field in response to the operation of a proposed chilled gas pipeline traversing permafrost regions in Alaska was simulated by a pipe-soil thermal interaction geothermal model.Frost heave mitigation measures,including insulation around the pipe,flat slab insulation under the pipe,and heating cables combined with slab insulation,were evaluated for chilled pipeline operation in seasonally varying ambient temperatures.The numerical results show that the minimum temperature of the observation point at 2.5 m below the pipe bottom increases by 17%,29%,and 48%when the thermal conductivity of the outer insulation layer is 0.1,0.05,and 0.02 W/(m K),respectively.For flat slab insulation,the thermal field is less sensitive to varying slab thicknesses than to varying thermal conductivity,implying the thermal conductivity,not the thickness,is the crucial factor.Additionally,the heat flow could be redirected from vertical to horizontal by flat slab insulation.The electrical heating cables could be regarded as a new heat source to balance the heat removal rate of the soil around the chilled pipe.The minimum temperature of the observation point at 1.1 m below the bottom of the pipe increases from-15.2℃to-3.0,1.5,and 7.5℃,corresponding to the heating cable power of 20,30,and 40 W,respectively,with the power of 30 W deemed appropriate for the study case.It is concluded that heating cables in combination with insulation slabs could be adopted to regulate the temperature field around the chilled pipeline efficiently and economically.The advantages of this combination include redirecting the heat flow and eliminating frost in the soil underlying the pipe.These approaches could be considered for applications in gas pipeline projects in arctic and alpine/high-plateau permafrost regions.

Vegetation impact on the thermal regimes of the active layer and near-surface permafrost in the Greater Hinggan Mountains, Northeastern China

The ground temperature and active layer are greatly influenced by vegetation in the Greater Hinggan Mountains in Northeastern China.However,vegetation,as a complex system,is difficult to separate the influence of its different components on the ground thermal regime.In this paper,four vegetation types,including a Larix dahurica-Ledum palustre var.dilatatum-Bryum forest（P1）,a L.dahurica-Betula fruticosa forest（P2）,a L.dahurica-Carex tato forest（P3） in the China Forest Ecological Research Network Station in Genhe,and a Carex tato swamp（P4） at the permafrost observation site in Yitulihe,have been selected to study and compare their seasonal and annual influence on the ground thermal regime.Results show that the vegetation insulates the ground resulting in a relatively high ground temperature variability in the Carex tato swamp where there are no tree stands and shrubs when compared with three forested vegetation types present in the area.Vegetation thickness,structure,and coverage are the most important factors that determine the insulating properties of the vegetation.In particular,the growth of ground cover,its water-holding capacity and ability to intercept snow exert a significant effect on the degree of insulation of the soil under the same vegetation.

气候变化下多年冻土融水对青藏高原径流影响评估

青藏高原约40%的面积分布有多年冻土,相比冰川积雪融水得到的广泛关注,冻土融水对径流的影响仍有待评估.本研究基于耦合冰冻圈过程的分布式水文模型GBEHM(Geomorphology-based Ecohydrological Model),在区域尺度量化了多年冻土融水对径流的影响.研究结果表明:(1)过去40年间,青藏高原多年冻土面积下降13.9%,地下冰储量减少约401.1 Gt,约为同期冰川储量减少量的2倍;(2)多年冻土融水对全青藏高原总径流贡献相对较小(约0.5%),但在某些区域(如黄河上游、长江上游)和高程范围(如河西走廊4000m高程附近),地下冰融水对径流的贡献超过冰川融水贡献,其影响不可忽略;(3)气候变化背景下,地下冰融水径流在未来不可持续,澜沧江、怒江等区域历史阶段已经达到峰值,而对全青藏高原,融水径流拐点预计将在21世纪20年代(SSP1-2.6)、50年代(SSP2-4.5)或90年代(SSP5-8.5)达到.

祁连山绿色发展:从生态治理到生态恢复

在祁连山生态环境经重锤整治、生态恢复初显成效之际,第二次青藏高原综合科学考察之'祁连山综合考察'全面开启.优先围绕生态系统与生态安全、固体水库动态变化、人类活动变化与生态生计影响三大关键任务,开展天-空-地一体化考察,定量核算了生态环境整治后局部的生态环境收益与经济损失,并基于远程耦合方法核算了祁连山的全局生态系统服务价值.研究发现:生态环境整治提升了生态环境服务价值;暖湿化背景下生态系统整体向好,珍稀物种种群扩大,但对局部草原过牧管控不力导致退化;冰川冰储量亏损加剧,冰川融水径流贡献率将越过临界点;过去10多年冻土融化释放的水量约为1.18 km3/a,相当于祁连山出山河流年径流总量的10%;祁连山全局生态系统服务估算价值高达10676(±1601)亿元,远高于2017年区域经济损失的53.09亿元.鉴于祁连山对于全国的巨大生态价值,建议国家加大生态补偿力度,实现祁连山生态生计双赢的绿色发展.祁连山综合科学考察成果可为祁连山国家公园建设,以及'山水林田湖草'系统保护与修复提供详实数据和决策依据,为'丝绸之路经济带'沿线国家流域治理提供典型案例和科学支撑.

多年冻土区天然气管道压气站失效情境下应对方案研究

多年冻土区天然气管道管基土冻胀和融沉地质灾害是人们所熟知的威胁管道安全运行的重大风险。受长输管道用管材最低设计金属温度限制,在压气站失效后,气体进行越站输送,由于焦耳—汤姆逊效应,会出现下游管道输气温度低于管材金属最低设计温度的风险。而对于温带地区的管道工程,不会出现类似的技术挑战。以某多年冻土区天然气管道工程为例,从保护多年冻土的角度给出了全线温度分区控制策略及实现途径。采用国际通用水力热力软件SPS对压气站失效后不采取措施和采取诸如提高失效压气站上游压气站出站温度、降低管道输量、额外增设加热站等不同措施下的多种工况进行了定量计算和分析讨论,并初步给出相应的解决方案构想。希望能够补充现有输气工艺理论,为北极和高山多年冻土区天然气管道建设提供新的思路。

青藏高原多年冻土特征、变化及影响

青藏高原是全球中纬度面积最大的多年冻土分布区,青藏高原多年冻土对东亚季风乃至全球气候系统都有重要影响.本文在前人研究成果的基础上,系统地梳理了青藏高原多年冻土基本特征的现状,主要包括活动层厚度,多年冻土面积、温度和厚度的空间分布,以及多年冻土区地下冰和土壤碳储量等方面的研究进展.通过补充最近监测资料,阐述了高原尺度活动层和多年冻土热状况的动态变化过程及趋势,并分析了这种变化的水文效应.随后,概述了多年冻土与生态系统、多年冻土与碳循环相互作用关系方面的研究进展.青藏高原多年冻土在过去数十年来发生了不同程度的退化,对多年冻土区地表的水、土、气、生间的相互作用关系产生了显著影响,进而影响着区域水文、生态乃至全球气候系统.本研究可为冻土与气候变化相互作用关系的机理研究提供思路,为寒区环境保护、工程设计和施工提供参考经验.

Evolution of permafrost in China during the last 20 ka

The formation and evolution of permafrost in China during the last 20 ka were reconstructed on the basis of large amount of paleo-permafrost remains and paleo-periglacial evidence, as well as paleo-glacial landforms, paleo-flora and paleofauna records. The results indicate that, during the local Last Glacial Maximum(LLGM) or local Last Permafrost Maximum(LLPMax), the extent of permafrost of China reached 5.3×106-5.4×106 km2, or thrice that of today, but permafrost shrank to only0.80×106-0.85×106 km2, or 50% that of present, during the local Holocene Megathermal Period(LHMP), or the local Last Permafrost Minimum(LLPMin). On the basis of the dating of periglacial remains and their distributive features, the extent of permafrost in China was delineated for the two periods of LLGM(LLPMax) and LHMP(LLPMin), and the evolution of permafrost in China was divided into seven periods as follows:(1) LLGM in Late Pleistocene(ca. 20000 to 13000-10800 a BP)with extensive evidence for the presence of intensive ice-wedge expansion for outlining its LLPMax extent;(2) A period of dramatically changing climate during the early Holocene(10800 to 8500-7000 a BP) when permafrost remained relatively stable but with a general trend of shrinking areal extent;(3) The LHMP in the Mid-Holocene(8500-7000 to 4000-3000 a BP)when permafrost degraded intensively and extensively, and shrank to the LLPMin;(4) Neoglaciation during the late Holocene(4000-3000 to 1000 a BP, when permafrost again expanded;(5) Medieval Warming Period(MWP) in the late Holocene(1000-500 a BP) when permafrost was in a relative decline;(6) Little Ice Age(LIA) in the late Holocene(500-100 a BP), when permafrost relatively expanded, and;(7) Recent warming(during the 20 th century), when permafrost continuously degraded and still is degrading. The paleo-climate, geography and paleopermafrost extents and other features were reconstructed for each of these seven periods.

Mapping the permafrost stability on the Tibetan Plateau for 2005–2015

Data scarcity is a major obstacle for high-resolution mapping of permafrost on the Tibetan Plateau(TP).This study produces a new permafrost stability distribution map for the 2010 s(2005–2015)derived from the predicted mean annual ground temperature(MAGT)at a depth of zero annual amplitude(10–25 m)by integrating remotely sensed freezing degree-days and thawing degree-days,snow cover days,leaf area index,soil bulk density,high-accuracy soil moisture data,and in situ MAGT measurements from 237 boreholes on the TP by using an ensemble learning method that employs a support vector regression model based on distance-blocked resampled training data with 200 repetitions.Validation of the new permafrost map indicates that it is probably the most accurate of all currently available maps.This map shows that the total area of permafrost on the TP,excluding glaciers and lakes,is approximately 115.02(105.47–129.59)×10^4 km^2.The areas corresponding to the very stable,stable,semi-stable,transitional,and unstable types are 0.86×10^4,9.62×10^4,38.45×10^4,42.29×10^4,and 23.80×10^4 km^2,respectively.This new map is of fundamental importance for engineering planning and design,ecosystem management,and evaluation of the permafrost change in the future on the TP as a baseline.

Dissolved organic carbon in permafrost regions: A review

A large quantity of organic carbon(C) is stored in northern and elevational permafrost regions. A portion of this large terrestrial organic C pool will be transferred by water into soil solution(～0.4 Pg C yr^(-1))(1 Pg=10^(15) g), rivers (～0.06 Pg C yr^(-1)),wetlands, lakes, and oceans. The lateral transport of dissolved organic carbon(DOC) is the primary pathway, impacting river biogeochemistry and ecosystems. However, climate warming will substantially alter the lateral C shifts in permafrost regions.Vegetation, permafrost, precipitation, soil humidity and temperature, and microbial activities, among many other environmental factors, will shift substantially under a warming climate. It remains uncertain as to what extent the lateral C cycle is responding,and will respond, to climate change. This paper reviews recent studies on terrestrial origins of DOC, biodegradability, transfer pathways, and modelling, and on how to forecast of DOC fluxes in permafrost regions under a warming climate, as well as the potential anthropogenic impacts on DOC in permafrost regions. It is concluded that:(1) surface organic layer, permafrost soils,and vegetation leachates are the main DOC sources, with about 4.72 Pg C DOC stored in the topsoil at depths of 0–1 m in permafrost regions;(2) in-stream DOC concentrations vary spatially and temporally to a relatively small extent (1–60 mg C L^(-1)) and annual export varies from 0.1–10 g C m^(-2) yr^(-1);(3) biodegradability of DOC from the thawing permafrost can be as high as 71%, with a median at 52%;(4) DOC flux is controlled by multiple factors, mainly including vegetation, soil properties,permafrost occurrence, river discharge and other related environmental factors, and(5) many statistical and process-based models have been developed, but model predictions are inconsistent with observational results largely dependent on the individual watershed characteristics and future discharge trends. Thus, it is still difficult to predict how future lateral C flux will respond to climate change, but changes in the DOC regimes in individual catchments can be predicted with a reasonable reliability. It is advised that sampling protocols and preservation and analysis methods should be standardized, and analytical techniques at molecular scales and numerical modeling on thermokarsting processes should be prioritized.