Impact of Initial Soil Conditions on Soil Hydrothermal and Surface Energy Fluxes in the Permafrost Region of the Tibetan Plateau

Accurate initial soil conditions play a crucial role in simulating soil hydrothermal and surface energy fluxes in land surface process modeling.This study emphasized the influence of the initial soil temperature(ST)and soil moisture(SM)conditions on a land surface energy and water simulation in the permafrost region in the Tibetan Plateau(TP)using the Community Land Model version 5.0(CLM5.0).The results indicate that the default initial schemes for ST and SM in CLM5.0 were simplistic,and inaccurately represented the soil characteristics of permafrost in the TP which led to underestimating ST during the freezing period while overestimating ST and underestimating SLW during the thawing period at the XDT site.Applying the long-term spin-up method to obtain initial soil conditions has only led to limited improvement in simulating soil hydrothermal and surface energy fluxes.The modified initial soil schemes proposed in this study comprehensively incorporate the characteristics of permafrost,which coexists with soil liquid water(SLW),and soil ice(SI)when the ST is below freezing temperature,effectively enhancing the accuracy of the simulated soil hydrothermal and surface energy fluxes.Consequently,the modified initial soil schemes greatly improved upon the results achieved through the long-term spin-up method.Three modified initial soil schemes experiments resulted in a 64%,88%,and 77%reduction in the average mean bias error(MBE)of ST,and a 13%,21%,and 19%reduction in the average root-mean-square error(RMSE)of SLW compared to the default simulation results.Also,the average MBE of net radiation was reduced by 7%,22%,and 21%.

Effects of Different Ecological Conditions on Grain Quality and RVA Profile Characteristics of Japonica Rice Varieties from Yunnan Plateau of China and Korea

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the variation characteristics of Yunnan and Korean japonica rice quality under different environmental conditions in Yunnan Plateau. [Method] Ten Yunnan japonica rice varieties and six Korean japonica rice varieties were selected to investigate the effects of ecological conditions on grain quality characteristics and starch RVA profile characteristic values of Yunnan and Korean japonica rice. [Result] The coefficient of variation of Yunnan and Korean japonica rice reached the maximum in setback viscosity (SBV). The coefficients of variation of brown rice length (BRL), chalkiness rate (CR), amylose content (AC), protein content (PC), alkali digestion value (ADV), final viscosity (FLV), setback viscosity (SBV) and peak time (PeT) of Yunnan japonica rice varieties were significantly higher than those of Korean japonica rice, while other grain quality characteristics were contrary. With the increasing altitudes, BRL, brown rice width (BRW), length-width ratio (L/W), whiteness (WH), AC, ADV, FLV and consistence viscosity (CTV) of Yunnan japonica rice and BRL, BRW, WH, PC, peak viscosity (PKV), hot viscosity (HTV) and breakdown viscosity (BDV) of Korean japonica rice were significantly reduced , while CR, PC, HTV and PeT of Yunnan japonica rice and L/W, AC, ADV and CTV of Korean japonica rice significantly increased, but CR of Korean japonica rice showed no significantly variation. PKV, BDV and pasting temperature (PaT) of Yunnan japonica rice and PaT of Korean japonica rice showed an upward trend after an initial drop with the increasing altitudes, while SBV of Yunnan japonica rice and FLV and PeT of Korean japonica rice were contrary. [Conclusion] This study provided theoretical basis for breeding of japonica rice in Yunnan Plateau.

Changes in terrestrial surface dry and wet conditions on the Loess Plateau(China) during the last half century

This paper, using a revised Penman-Monteith model, computed the terrestrial surface humidity index of the Loess Plateau （China） based on climatic factors of monthly mean temperature, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, wind speed and sunshine duration observed on the plateau from 1961 to 2008. The temporal-spatial distribution, anomaly distribution and sub-regional temporal variations of the terrestrial surface dry and wet conditions were analyzed as well. The results showed a decreasing trend in the annual average surface humidity from the southeast to the northwest in the research anna. Over the period of 1961-2008, an aridification tendency appeared sharply in the central interior region of the Loess Plateau, and less sharply in the middle part of the region. The border region showed the weakest tendency ol; aridification. It is clear that aridification diffused in all directions from the interior region. The spatial anomaly distribution of the terrestrial surface dry and wet conditions on the Loess Plateau can be divided into three key areas： the southern, western and eastern regions. The terrestrial annual humidity index displayed a significantly descending trend and showed remarkable abrupt changes from wet to dry in the years 1967, 1977 and 1979. In the above mentioned three key areas for dry and wet conditions, the terrestrial annual humidity index exhibited a fluctuation period of 3-4 years, while in the southern region, a fluctuation period of 7-8 years existed at the same time.

Sensitivity of East Asian Climate to the Progressive Uplift and Expansion of the Tibetan Plateau Under the Mid-Pliocene Boundary Conditions

A global atmospheric general circulation model has been used to perform eleven idealized numerical experiments, i.e., TP10, TP10, .., TP100, corresponding to different percentages of the Tibetan Plateau altitude. The aim is to explore the sensitivity of East Asian climate to the uplift and expansion of the Tibetan Plateau under the reconstructed boundary conditions for the mid-Pliocene about 3 Ma ago. When the plateau is progressively uplifted, global annual surface temperature is gradually declined and statistically significant cooling signals emerge only in the Northern Hemisphere, especially over and around the Tibetan Plateau, with larger magnitudes over land than over the oceans. On the contrary, annual surface temperature rises notably over Central Asia and most parts of Africa, as well as over northeasternmost Eurasia in the experiments TP60 to TP100. Meanwhile, the plateau uplift also leads to annual precipitation augmentation over the Tibetan Plateau but a reduction in northern Asia, the Indian Peninsula, much of Central Asia, parts of western Asia and the southern portions of northeastern Europe. Additionally, it is found that an East Asian summer monsoon system similar to that of the present initially exists in the TP60 and is gradually intensified with the continued plateau uplift. At 850 hPa the plateau uplift induces an anomalous cyclonic circulation around the Tibetan Plateau in summertime and two anomalous westerly currents respectively located to the south and north of the Tibetan Plateau in wintertime. In the mid-troposphere, similarto-modern spatial pattern of summertime western North Pacific subtropical high is only exhibited in the experiments TP60 to TP100, and the East Asian trough is steadily deepened in response to the progressive uplift and expansion of the Tibetan Plateau.

Conditions of Petroleum Geology of the Qiangtang Basin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau located in the Tethyan tectonic domain is the best developed region of Mesozoic and Cenozoic marine sediments in China. The Qiangtang basin is the biggest and relatively stable area of the plateau. Triassic and Jurassic hydrocarbon source rocks are extensively distributed in the basin. There exist good dolomite and organic reef reservoirs and mudstone and evaporite cap rocks, as well as well-developed structural traps in the basin; in addition destroyed petroleum traps have been discovered. Therefore, the conditions of petroleum geology in the Qiangtang basin are excellent

Large-scale conditions of Tibet Plateau vortex departure

Based on the circumfluence situation of the out- and in-Tibet Plateau Vortex (TPV) from 1998–2004 and its weather-influencing system,multiple synthesized physical fields in the middle–upper troposphere of the out- and in-TPV are computationally analyzed by using re-analysis data from National Centers for Environmental Prediction and National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) of United States.Our research shows that the departure of TPV is caused by the mutual effects among the weather systems in Westerlies and in the subtropical area,within the middle and the upper troposphere.This paper describes the large-scale meteorological condition and the physics image of the departure of TPV,and the main differences among the large-scale conditions for all types of TPVs.This study could be used as the scientific basis for predicting the torrential rain and the floods caused by the TPV departure.

Spatial Differentiation Characteristics of Human Settlements and Their Responses to Natural and Socioeconomic Conditions in the Marginal Zone of an Uninhabited Area,Changtang Plateau,China

The Changtang Plateau(CTP)in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China is one of the top-10 uninhabited areas with the most important ecological value in the world.It is of great academic and practical significance to carry out research on human settlements in the marginal zones of the uninhabited areas to promote harmonious coexistence between humans and nature on the CTP.Using high-definition remote-sensing images to visually interpret and identify settlement-patch data,combined with field investigations,this study explores the spatial characteristics of human settlements in Shuanghu and Nyima counties and their responses to natural and socioeconomic conditions in the hinterland of the CTP.Findings reveal that the scale of human settlements on the CTP is extremely small,and density is very sparse.Settlements on the CTP primarily consist of several households,with some containing more than a dozen households,or are sub-village scale.Socioeconomic development is low and socioeconomic factors have a weak influence on the settlement layout on the CTP.Natural factors are the core elements affecting the layout of human settlements on the CTP.Settlements tend to occur on low mountains,gentle slopes,and areas with high average annual temperatures.Careful settlement site selection can help to mitigate the impact of natural disasters.To meet the needs of grazing,settlement layouts must typically have a high-quality grassland orientation.Riverbanks are key settlement areas,and settlement sites are often far away from alpine salt lakes.The characteristics of settlements on the CTP and their responses to environmental conditions significantly differ from those of human settlements in low-altitude inland areas.

Geological Conditions and Prospect Forecast of Shale Gas Formation in Qiangtang Basin, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The presence of shale gas has been confirmed in almost every marine shale distribution area in North America.Formation conditions of shale gas in China are the most favorable for marine,organic-rich shale as well.But there has been little research focusing on shale gas in Qiangtang Basin,Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,where a lot of Mesozoic marine shale formations developed.Based on the survey results of petroleum geology and comprehensive test analysis data for Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,for the first time,this paper discusses characteristics of sedimentary development,thickness distribution,geochemistry,reservoir and burial depth of organic-rich shale,and geological conditions for shale gas formation in Qiangtang Basin.There are four sets of marine shale strata in Qiangtang Basin including Upper Triassic Xiaochaka Formation （T3x）,Middle Jurassic Buqu Formation （J2b）,Xiali Formation （J2x） and Upper Jurassic Suowa Formation （J3s）,the sedimentary types of which are mainly bathyal-basin facies,open platform-platform margin slope facies,lagoon and tidal-fiat facies,as well as delta facies.By comparing it with the indicators of gas shale in the main U.S.basins,it was found that the four marine shale formations in Qiangtang Basin constitute a multi-layer distribution of organic-rich shale,featuring a high degree of thickness and low abundance of organic matter,high thermal evolution maturity,many kinds of brittle minerals,an equivalent content of quartz and clay minerals,a high content of feldspar and low porosity,which provide basic conditions for an accumulation of shale gas resources.Xiaochaka Formation shale is widely distributed,with big thickness and the best gas generating indicators.It is the main gas source layer.Xiali Formation shale is of intermediate thickness and coverage area,with relatively good gas generating indicators and moderate gas formation potential.Buqu Formation shale and Suowa Formation shale are of relatively large thickness,and covering a small area,with poor gas generating indicators,and limited gas formation potential.The shale gas geological resources and technically recoverable resources were estimated by using geologic analogy method,and the prospective areas and potentially favorable areas for Mesozoic marine shale gas in Qiangtang Basin are forecast and analyzed.It is relatively favorable in a tectonic setting and indication of oil and gas,shale maturity,sedimentary thickness and gypsum-salt beds,and in terms of mineral association for shale gas accumulation.But the challenge lies in overcoming the harsh natural conditions which contributes to great difficulties in ground engineering and exploration,and high exploration costs.

Estimation of Hourly Solar Radiation at the Surface under Cloudless Conditions on the Tibetan Plateau Using a Simple Radiation Model

In this study, the clear sky hourly global and net solar irradiances at the surface determined using SUNFLUX, a simple parameterization scheme, for three stations （Gaize, Naqu, and Lhasa） on the Tibetan Plateau were evaluated against observation data. Our modeled results agree well with observations. The correlation coefficients between modeled and observed values were 〉 0.99 for all three stations. The relative error of modeled results, in average was 〈 7%, and the root-mean-square variance was 〈 27 W m-2. The solar irradiances in the radiation model were slightly overestimated compared with observation data; there were at least two likely causes. First, the radiative effects of aerosols were not included in the radiation model. Second, solar irradiances determined by thermopile pyranometers include a thermal offset error that causes solar radiation to be slightly underestimated. The solar radiation absorbed by the ozone and water vapor was estimated. The results show that monthly mean solar radiation absorbed by the ozone is 〈 2% of the global solar radiation （〈 14 W m-2）. Solar radiation absorbed by water vapor is stronger in summer than in winter. The maximum amount of monthly mean solar radiation absorbed by water vapor can be up to 13% of the global solar radiation （95 W m-2）. This indicates that water vapor measurements with high precision are very important for precise determination of solar radiation.

Thermal–moisture dynamics and thermal stability of active layer in response to wet/dry conditions in the central region of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau,China

The amount of rainfall varies unevenly in different regions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with some regions becoming wetter and others drier. Precipitation has an important impact on the process of surface energy balance and the energy-water transfer within soils. To clarify the thermal-moisture dynamics and thermal stability of the active layer in permafrost regions under wet/dry conditions, the verified water-vapour-heat coupling model was used. Changes in the surface energy balance, energy-water transfer within the soil, and thickness of the active layer were quantitatively analyzed. The results demonstrate that rainfall changes significantly affect the Bowen ratio, which in turn affects surface energy exchange. Under wet/dry conditions, there is a positive correlation between rainfall and liquid water flux under the hydraulic gradient;water vapour migration is the main form under the temperature gradient, which indicates that the influence of water vapour migration on thermalmoisture dynamics of the active layer cannot be neglected. Concurrently, regardless of wet or dry conditions,disturbance of the heat transport by conduction caused by rainfall is stronger than that of convection by liquid water. In addition, when rainfall decreases by 1.5 times(212 mm) and increases by 1.5 times(477 mm), the thickness of the active layer increases by 0.12 m and decreases by 0.21 m, respectively. The results show that dry conditions are not conducive to the preservation of frozen soil;however, wet conditions are conducive to the preservation of frozen soil, although there is a threshold value. When this threshold value is exceeded, rainfall is unfavourable for the development of frozen soil.

The hypoxia adaptation of small mammals to plateau and underground burrow conditions

Oxygen is one of the important substances for the survival of most life systems on the earth,and plateau and underground burrow systems are two typical hypoxic environments.Small mammals living in hypoxic environments have evolved different adaptation strategies,which include increased oxygen delivery,metabolic regulation of physiological responses and other physiological responses that change tissue oxygen utilization.Multiomics predictions have also shown that these animals have evolved different adaptations to extreme environments.In particular,vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and erythropoietin(EPO),which have specific functions in the control of O_(2) delivery,have evolved adaptively in small mammals in hypoxic environments.Naked mole-rats and blind mole-rats are typical hypoxic model animals as they have some resistance to cancer.This review primarily summarizes the main living environment of hypoxia tolerant small mammals,as well as the changes of phenotype,physiochemical characteristics and gene expression mode of their long-term living in hypoxia environment.

Response of Freezing/Thawing Indexes to the Wetting Trend under Warming Climate Conditions over the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau during 1961–2010:A Numerical Simulation

Since the 1990s,the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau(QTP)has experienced a strikingly warming and wetter climate that alters the thermal and hydrological properties of frozen ground.A positive correlation between the warming and thermal degradation in permafrost or seasonally frozen ground(SFG)has long been recognized.Still,a predictive relationship between historical wetting under warming climate conditions and frozen ground has not yet been well demonstrated,despite the expectation that it will become even more important because precipitation over the QTP has been projected to increase continuously in the near future.This study investigates the response of the thermal regime to historical wetting in both permafrost and SFG areas and examines their relationships separately using the Community Land Surface Model version 4.5.Results show that wetting before the 1990s across the QTP mainly cooled the permafrost body in the arid and semiarid zones,with significant correlation coefficients of 0.60 and 0.48,respectively.Precipitation increased continually at the rate of 6.16 mm decade–1 in the arid zone after the 1990s but had a contrasting warming effect on permafrost through a significant shortening of the thawing duration within the active layer.However,diminished rainfall in the humid zone after the 1990s also significantly extended the thawing duration of SFG.The relationship between the ground thawing index and precipitation was significantly negatively correlated(−0.75).The dual effects of wetting on the thermal dynamics of the QTP are becoming critical because of the projected increases in future precipitation.

Variations of trace elements under hydrological conditions in the Min River, Eastern Tibetan Plateau

In order to better understand the relative importance of hydrologic variation and anthropogenic disturbance and their complex interactions within the trace elemental geochemical cycle, water samples were collected monthly over 1 year in the Min River, eastern Tibetan Plateau, and analyzed for trace element composition. The dissolved trace elements exhibited different relationships with increasing discharge compared with major elements.The elements analyzed can be divided into three groups according to their behavior in response to changing discharge:(1) elements that showed weak positive correlation with discharge, e.g. Cu, V, and Ba;(2) elements that exhibited weak negative correlation with discharge,including Rb, Sr, Pb, Sb, Zn, Cr, Cd, and U; and(3) elements that displayed no significant correlation with variation in discharge, e.g. Ti, Fe, Co, Ni, and As. Cu was strongly affected by anthropogenic activities and flushed into the river with increasing discharge. Ba has a strong solubility in the terrestrial environment, dissolved quickly,and was released into the river. The positive relationship between V concentration and discharge may be attributed to secondary reactions, such as precipitation and adsorption on oxides and aluminosilicate clays. Conservative behavior had an impact on the geochemical behavior of Sr and Rb across hydrologic variation. Pb, Zn, Sb, Cd, and Cr underwent a mild dilution effect connected with anthropogenic activities. The chemostatic behavior of U was regulated by carbonate dissolution and biological uptake.In addition, higher temperatures enhanced biotic activities,affecting the concentrations of Fe and Ni. The relationship between power law slopes and coefficient of variation for discharge and solute concentration suggests that concentrations of trace elements vary significantly with increasing discharge compared with major elements. Silicate mineral weathering had less effect on the fluvial solutes with increasing discharge. Mining activity may exert an additional control on concentration–discharge dynamics of anthropogenic trace elements.

Redox conditions in sediments and during sedimentation in the Ontong Java Plateau,west equatorial Pacific

Redox-sensitive elements in sediments, such as manganese （Mn）, vanadium （V）, molybdenum （Mo）, and uranium （U）, are promising indicators of past redox conditions during sedimentation and early diagenesis. However, in the Ontong Java Plateau, west equatorial Pacific, there are sparse datasets of redox-sensitive elements in sediment cores. Here, we present a 250 ka record of redox sensitive elements from a 460 cm gravity core at site WP7 （3~56＇S, 156^.E, water depth 1 800 m）, which was recovered from the southwest Ontong Java Plateau during the 1993 cruise of R/V Science I of the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences （IOCAS）. Relative to the Post-Archean Australian Shale （PAAS）, authigenic Mn, cobalt （Co）, nickel （Ni）, Mo, V, U, and cadmium （Cd） were found at constantly low levels except when peaks occurred at several depth intervals. Manganese, Co, Ni, and Mo concentrations were elevated at 25-35 cm due to Mn redox cycling. The core was divided into three distinct sections, the top 0-25 cm being oxic, a suboxic section at 25-35 cm and from 35-460 cm which was anoxic. Differential authigenic enrichments of Co, Ni, Mo, V, U, and Cd at the same depth intervals were observed indicating that the enrichments happened during sedimentation or diagenesis and suffered no post settlement redox changes. Therefore, no significant changes in redox conditions during sedimentation must have happened. The water at depth on the Ontong Java Plateau during past 250 ka must have been well oxygenated, possibly resulted from the more or less continuous presence of oxygen-rich deep water like the modem Antarctic Intermediate Water （AAIW） and Antarctic Circumpolar Water （ACW）; while it＇s slightly less oxygenated in glacial intervals, possibly due to ventilation weakening and/or the surface productivity increase.

Assessing the Impacts of Initial Snow Conditions over the Tibetan Plateau on China Precipitation Prediction Using a Global Climate Model

Two ensemble experiments were conducted using a general atmospheric circulation model. These experiments were used to investigate the impacts of initial snow anomalies over the Tibetan Plateau(TP) on China precipitation prediction. In one of the experiments, the initial snow conditions over the TP were climatological values; while in the other experiment, the initial snow anomalies were snow depth estimates derived from the passive microwave remote-sensing data. In the current study, the difference between these two experiments was assessed to evaluate the impact of initial snow anomalies over the TP on simulated precipitation. The results indicated that the model simulation for precipitation over eastern China had certain improvements while applying a more realistic initial snow anomaly, especially for spring precipitation over Northeast China and North China and for summer precipitation over North China and Southeast China. The results suggest that seasonal prediction could be enhanced by using more realistic initial snow conditions over TP, and microwave remote-sensing snow data could be used to initialize climate models and improve the simulation of eastern China precipitation during spring and summer. Further analyses showed that higher snow anomalies over TP cooled the surface, resulting in lower near- surface air temperature over the TP in spring and summer. The surface cooling over TP weakened the Asian summer monsoon and brought more precipitation in South China in spring and more precipitation to Southeast China during summer.

Multiple Uplift and Exhumation of the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau:Evidence from Low-Temperature Thermochronology

Since the Cenozoic,the Tibetan Plateau has experienced large-scale uplift and outgrowth due to the India-Asia collision.However,the mechanism and timing of these tectonic processes still remain debated.Here,using apatite fission track dating and inverse thermal modeling,we explore the mechanism of different phases of rapid cooling for different batholiths and intrusions in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau.In contrast to previous views,we find that the coeval granitic batholith exposed in the same tectonic zone experienced differential fast uplift in different sites,indicating that the present Tibetan Plateau was the result of differential uplift rather than the entire lithosphere uplift related to lithospheric collapse during Cenozoic times.In addition,we also suggest that the 5-2 Ma mantle-related magmatism should be regarded as the critical trigger for the widely coeval cooling event in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau,because it led to the increase in atmospheric CO_(2)level and a hotter upper crust than before,which are efficient for suddenly fast rock weathering and erosion.Finally,we propose that the current landform of the southeastern Tibetan Plateau was the combined influences of tectonic and climate.

Convection-Permitting Simulations of Current and Future Climates over the Tibetan Plateau

The Tibetan Plateau(TP)region,also known as the“Asian water tower”,provides a vital water resource for downstream regions.Previous studies of water cycle changes over the TP have been conducted with climate models of coarse resolution in which deep convection must be parameterized.In this study,we present results from a first set of highresolution climate change simulations that permit convection at approximately 3.3-km grid spacing,with a focus on the TP,using the Icosahedral Nonhydrostatic Weather and Climate Model(ICON).Two 12-year simulations were performed,consisting of a retrospective simulation(2008–20)with initial and boundary conditions from ERA5 reanalysis and a pseudoglobal warming projection driven by modified reanalysis-derived initial and boundary conditions by adding the monthly CMIP6 ensemble-mean climate change under the SSP5-8.5 scenario.The retrospective simulation shows overall good performance in capturing the seasonal precipitation and surface air temperature.Over the central and eastern TP,the average biases in precipitation(temperature)are less than−0.34 mm d−1(−1.1℃)throughout the year.The simulated biases over the TP are height-dependent.Cold(wet)biases are found in summer(winter)above 5500 m.The future climate simulation suggests that the TP will be wetter and warmer under the SSP5-8.5 scenario.The general features of projected changes in ICON are comparable to the CMIP6 ensemble projection,but the added value from kilometer-scale modeling is evident in both precipitation and temperature projections over complex topographic regions.These ICON-downscaled climate change simulations provide a high-resolution dataset to the community for the study of regional climate changes and impacts over the TP.

Characteristics of Wind Speed Profiles under Complex Terrain Conditions in Loess Plateau

To reveal the changing characteristics of wind speed with altitude in under complex terrain conditions in Loess Plateau in Northern Shaanxi, based on the complete data of wind speed profiles of six wind towers in the region in a year, the diurnal, monthly, and seasonal variations of wind shear index of the wind towers as well as the changes of wind shear index with wind speed under complex terrain conditions were studied. The results showed that the wind shear index of each wind tower was positive, showing that wind speed tended to increase with the rising of altitude in most areas of Loess Plateau in Northern Shaanxi; terrain had obvious effects on wind speed profiles. The wind shear index of the wind towers was small during the day and large at night; the differences between day and night in the wind shear index of various wind towers were different; there were obvious seasonal variations in the wind shear index of the wind towers under different terrain conditions. With the increase of wind speed, the wind shear index of each wind tower increased firstly and then decreased, but the peaks of wind shear index of various wind towers ap- peared in different wind speed ranges. When wind speed varied from 3 to 12 m/s, wind shear index was larger than the comprehensive wind shear index of the wind towers, which is beneficial to the improvement of power generation of a wind power plant. Wind shear index can be used to assess wind resources of a wind power plant.

Variation in the permafrost active layer over the Tibetan Plateau during 1980–2020

The active layer,acting as an intermediary of water and heat exchange between permafrost and atmosphere,greatly influences biogeochemical cycles in permafrost areas and is notably sensitive to climate fluctuations.Utilizing the Chinese Meteorological Forcing Dataset to drive the Community Land Model,version 5.0,this study simulates the spatial and temporal characteristics of active layer thickness(ALT)on the Tibetan Plateau(TP)from 1980 to 2020.Results show that the ALT,primarily observed in the central and western parts of the TP where there are insufficient station observations,exhibits significant interdecadal changes after 2000.The average thickness on the TP decreases from 2.54 m during 1980–1999 to 2.28 m during 2000–2020.This change is mainly observed in the western permafrost region,displaying a sharp regional inconsistency compared to the eastern region.A persistent increasing trend of ALT is found in the eastern permafrost region,rather than an interdecadal change.The aforementioned changes in ALT are closely tied to the variations in the surrounding atmospheric environment,particularly air temperature.Additionally,the area of the active layer on the TP displays a profound interdecadal change around 2000,arising from the permafrost thawing and forming.It consistently decreases before 2000 but barely changes after 2000.The regional variation in the permafrost active layer over the TP revealed in this study indicates a complex response of the contemporary climate under global warming.

Advances in ice avalanches on the Tibetan Plateau

As some of the greatest natural disasters in the cryosphere,ice avalanches(IAs)seriously threaten lives and cause catastrophic damage to the resource environment,but a comprehensive overview of the state of knowledge on IAs remains lacking.We summarized 63 IAs on the Tibetan Plateau(TP)since the 20th century,of which,over 20 IAs occurred after the 21st century.The distributions of IAs are mainly concentrated in the southeastern and northwestern TP,and the occurrence time of IAs is mostly concentrated from July to September.We highlight recent advances in mechanical properties and genetic mechanisms of IAs and emphasize that temperature,rainfall,and seismicity are the inducing factors.The failure modes of IAs are summarized into 6 categories by examples:slip pulling type,slip toppling type,slip breaking type,water level collapse type,cave roof collapse type,and wedge failure type.Finally,we deliver recommendations concerning the risk assessment and prediction of IAs.The results provide important scientific value for addressing climate change and resisting glacier-related hazards.