青藏铁路建设中的工程问题(概述)——物理与国家重点工程专题之一

青藏铁路格拉段始于青海省格尔木市(海拔高度为2800 m),终达西藏自治区的拉萨市(海拔高度达3800 m)。铁路沿线跨越6个纬度(北纬36°～30°),平均海拔高度4000 m以上,穿越昆仑山、风火山、唐古拉山,经过550 km终年冻结的多年冻土区。

Spatial pattern of soil carbon and nutrient storage at the Alpine tun-dra ecosystem of Changbai Mountain, China

In August 2003, we investigated spatial pattern in soil carbon and nutrients in the Alpine tundra of Changbai Moun-tain, Jilin Province, China. The analytical results showed that the soil C concentrations at different depths were significantly (p<0.05) higher in Meadow alpine tundra vegetation than that in other vegetation types; the soil C (including inorganic carbon) concentrations at layer below 10 cm are significantly (p<0.05) higher than at layer of 1020 cm among the different vegetation types; the spatial distribution of soil N concentration at top surface of 0-10 cm depth was similar to that at 1020 cm; the soil P concentrations at different depths were significantly (p<0.05) lower at Lithic alpine tundra vegetation than that at other vegetation types; soil K concentration was significantly (p<0.05) higher in Felsenmeer alpine tundra vegetation and Lithic alpine tundra vegetation than that in Typical alpine tundra, Meadow alpine tundra, and Swamp alpine tundra vegetations.. However, the soil K had not significant change at different soil depths of each vegetation type. Soil S concentration was dramatically higher in Meadow alpine tundra vegetation than that in other vegetation types. For each vegetation type, the ratios of C: N, C: P, C: K and C: S generally decreased with soil depth. The ratio of C: N was significantly higher at 010 cm than that at 1020 cm for all vegetation types except at the top layer of the Swamp alpine tundra vegetation. Our study showed that soil C and nutrients storage were significantly spatial heterogeneity.

Compressibility of fine-grained soils subjected to closed-system freezing and thaw consolidation

In order to investigate the effects of freezing and thawing on the compressibility of fine-grained soils, freezing and thawing tests and subsequent compression tests with fine-grained soils in an oedometer were carried out. During the freezing, a part of the soils is loosened and another part is over-consolidated under the freezing pressure σE. The compression curves after the freezing and thaw consolidation are neither different from the normal consolidation curve nor from the rebound curve of an unfrozen soil, until the consolidation pressure σz = σE is arrived. Based on the experimental results, a theoretical model has been devel- oped to predict the frost heaves, the thaw-settlements and the compressive deformations of fine-grained soils after the thaw consolidation. The theoretical results are very close to the experimental results.

Primary classification on drillability of frozen soil using neural networks

Through analysis on drillability of frozen soil, it is concluded that the main factors affecting the drillability of frozen soil are temperature, wave velocity, impact inductility and chiseling specific work. Based on the foundation it is discussed that applying the neural networks method to classify the drillability of frozen soil is simple and feasible, and the inputted vectors quantity of networks don’t be restricted, which make the classification on drillability of frozen soil rather well match the objective practice.

Modeling Hydrothermal Transfer Processes in Permafrost Regions of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China

Hydrothermal processes are key components in permafrost dynamics; these processes are integral to global wanning. In this study the coupled heat and mass transfer model for （CoupModel） the soil-plant-atmosphere-system is applied in high-altitude permafrost regions and to model hydrothermal transfer processes in freeze-thaw cycles. Measured meteorological forcing and soil and vegetation properties are used in the CoupModel for the period from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2012 at the Tanggula observation site in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. A 24-h time step is used in the model simulation. The results show that the simulated soil temperature and water content, as well as the frozen depth compare well with the measured data. The coefficient of determination （R2） is 0.97 for the mean soil temperature and 0.73 for the mean soil water content, respectively. The simulated soil heat flux at a depth of 0-20 cm is also consistent with the monitored data. An analysis is performed on the simulated hydrothermal transfer processes from the deep soil layer to the upper one during the freezing and thawing period. At the beginning of the freezing period, the water in the deep soil layer moves upward to the freezing front and releases heat during the freezing process. When the soil layer is completely frozen, there are no vertical water ex- changes between the soil layers, and the heat exchange process is controlled by the vertical soil temperature gradient. During the thaw- ing period, the downward heat process becomes more active due to increased incoming shortwave radiation at the ground surface. The melt water is quickly dissolved in the soil, and the soil water movement only changes in the shallow soil layer. Subsequently, the model was used to provide an evaluation of the potential response of the active layer to different scenarios of initial water content and climate warming at the Tanggula site. The results reveal that the soil water content and the organic layer provide protection against active layer deepening in summer, so climate warming will cause the permafrost active layer to become deeoer and permafrost degradation.

Infrared radiation method for measuring ice segregation temperature of artificially frozen soils

In order to study the evolution of the freezing fringe and final lenses of frost susceptible soils and advance the understanding of frost heave and mechanism of frost heave control, we used an open one-dimensional frost heave test system of infrared radiation technology, instead of a traditional thermistor method. Temperatures of the freezing fringe and segregated ice were measured in a non-contact mode. The results show that accurate and precise temperatures of ice segregation can be obtained by infrared thermal imaging systems. A self-developed inversion program inverted the temperature field of frozen soils. Based on our analysis of temperature variation in segregated ice and our study of the relationship between temperature and rate of ice segregation in cooling and warming processes during intermittent freezing, the mechanism of decreasing frost heave of frozen soils by controlling the growth of final lenses with an intermittent freezing mode, can be explained properly.

Carbon turnover times shape topsoil carbon difference between Tibetan Plateau and Arctic tundra

The Tibetan Plateau(TP)and Arctic permafrost constitute two large reservoirs of organic carbon,but processes which control carbon accumulation within the surface soil layer of these areas would differ due to the interplay of climate,soil and vegetation type.Here,we synthesized currently available soil carbon data to show that mean organic carbon density in the topsoil(0-10 cm)in TP grassland(3.12±0.52 kg C m^(-2))is less than half of that in Arctic tundra(6.70±1.94 kg C m^(-2)).Such difference is primarily attributed to their difference in radiocarbon-inferred soil carbon turnover times(547 years for TP grassland versus 1609 years for Arctic tundra)rather than to their marginal difference in topsoil carbon inputs.Our findings highlight the importance of improving regional-specific soil carbon turnover and its controlling mechanisms across permafrost affected zones in ecosystem models to fully represent carbon-climate feedback.

Distribution and changes of active layer thickness(ALT) and soil temperature(TTOP) in the source area of the Yellow River using the GIPL model

Active layer thickness（ALT） is critical to the understanding of the surface energy balance, hydrological cycles, plant growth, and cold region engineering projects in permafrost regions. The temperature at the bottom of the active layer, a boundary layer between the equilibrium thermal state（in permafrost below） and transient thermal state（in the atmosphere and surface canopies above）, is an important parameter to reflect the existence and thermal stability of permafrost. In this study, the Geophysical Institute Permafrost Model（GIPL） was used to model the spatial distribution of and changes in ALT and soil temperature in the Source Area of the Yellow River（SAYR）, where continuous, discontinuous, and sporadic permafrost coexists with seasonally frozen ground. Monthly air temperatures downscaled from the CRU TS3.0 datasets, monthly snow depth derived from the passive microwave remote-sensing data SMMR and SSM/I, and vegetation patterns and soil properties at scale of 1：1000000 were used as input data after modified with GIS techniques. The model validation was carried out carefully with in-situ ALT in the SAYR interpolated from the field-measured soil temperature data. The results of the model indicate that the average ALT in the SAYR has significantly increased from 1.8 m in 1980 to 2.4 m in 2006 at an average rate of 2.2 cm yr–1. The mean annual temperature at the bottom of the active layer, or temperature at the top of permafrost（TTOP） rose substantially from –1.1°C in 1980 to –0.6°C in 2006 at an average rate of 0.018°C yr–1. The increasing rate of the ALT and TTOP has accelerated since 2000. Regional warming and degradation of permafrost has also occurred, and the changes in the areal extent of regions with a sub-zero TTOP shrank from 2.4×104 to 2.2×104 km2 at an average rate of 74 km2 yr–1. Changes of ALT and temperature have adversely affected the environmental stability in the SAYR.

Effect of a thermokarst lake on soil physical properties and infiltration processes in the permafrost region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China

Changes in the hydrological processes in alpine soil constitute one of the several key problems encountered with studying watershed hydrology and ecosystem stability against the background of global warming. A typically developing thermokarst lake was chosen as a subject for a study using model simulation based on observations of soil physical properties, infiltration processes, and soil moisture. The results showed that the selected thermokarst lake imposed certain changes on the soil infiltration processes and, with the degree of impact intensifying, the initial infiltration rate decreased. The greatest reduction was achieved in the area of moderate impact. However, the stable infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration gradually increased in the surface layer at a depth of 10 and 20 cm, both decreasing initially and then increasing, which is correlated significantly with soil textures. Moreover, the cumulative infiltration changed in line with steady infiltration rate. Based on a comparative analysis, the Horton model helps better understand the effect on the soil infiltration processes of the cold alpine meadow close to the chosen thermokarst lake. In conclusion, the formation of the thermokarst lake reduced the water holding capacity of the alpine meadow soil and caused the hydraulic conductivity to increase, resulting in the reduction of runoff capacity in the area of the thermokarst lake.

Geochemistry and genesis of authigenic pyrite from gas hydrate accumulation system in the Qilian Mountain permafrost, Qinghai, northwest China

A type of authigenic pyrites that fully fill or semi-fill the rock fractures of drillholes with gas hydrate anomalies are found in the Qilian Mountain permafrost; this type of pyrite is known as ＂fracture-filling＂ pyrite. The occurrence of ＂fracture-filling＂ pyrite has a certain similarity with that of the hydrate found in this region, and the pyrite is generally concentrated in the lower part of the hydrate layer or the hydrate anomaly layer. The morphology, trace elements, rare earth elements, and sulfur isotope analyses of samples from drillhole DK-6 indicate that the ＂fracture-filling＂ pyrites are dominated by cubic ones mainly aligned in a step-like fashion along the surfaces of rock fractures and are associated with a circular structure, lower Co/Ni and Sr/Ba, lower ZREE, higher LREE, significant Eu negative anomalies, and 634ScDT positive bias. In terms of the pyrites＇ unique crys- tal morphology and geochemical characteristics and their relationship with the hydrate layers or abnormal layers, they are closely related with the accumulation system of the gas hydrate in the Qilian Mountain permafrost. As climate change is an important factor in affecting the stability of the gas hydrate, formation of fracture-filling pyrites is most likely closely related to the secondary change of the metastable gas hydrate under the regional climate warming. The distribution intensity of these py- rites indicates that when the gas hydrate stability zone （GHSZ） is narrowing, the hydrate decomposition at the bottom of the GHSZ is stronger than that at the top of the GHSZ, whereas the hydrate decomposition within the GHSZ is relatively weak. Thus, the zone between the shallowest and the deepest distribution of the fracture-filling pyrite recorded the largest possible original GHSZ.