Abstract
The suprapermafrost groundwater in permafrost region not only is an important component of the water cycle and land surface process, but also is closely associated with the charges of ecological environment in cold region. However, the seasonal dynamics, driving factors, and mechanism of suprapermafrost groundwater are not well understood. Based on observation at slope scale on suprapermafrost groundwater dynamics of typical alpine meadows in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the seasonal dynamics, spatial distribution and driving factors of suprapermafrost groundwater were analyzed. The results showed that there were close relationships between the seasonal dynamics of suprapermafrost groundwater and the freezing-thawing processes of active soil in permafrost region. The seasonal dynamics of suprapermafrost groundwater and its slope distribution pattern were controlled by soil temperature of active layers. The phase and range of the suprapermafrost groundwater dynamics are determined by deep soil (below 60 cm depth) moisture and groundwater recharging sources. The relationship between active soil temperatures and dynamics of suprapermafrost groundwater levels was better described by Boltzmann functions. However, the influencing thresholds of soil temperature on groundwater dynamics varied at different depths of active layers and in different slope positions, which resulted in the significant spatial heterogeneity of suprapermafrost groundwater dynamics in slope scale. Land cover change and global warming certainly altered the dynamics of suprapermafrost groundwater and the hydraulic interaction between groundwater and rivers, and consequently altered the overall hydrologic cycle of watershed scale.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cheng G D, Jin H J. 2013. Groundwater in the permafrost regions on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its changes (in Chinese). Hydrogeol Eng Geol, 40: 1–11
Dyurgerov M, Bring A, Destouni G. 2010. Integrated assessment of changes in freshwater inflow to the Arctic Ocean. J Geophys Res, 115: D12116
Ge S M, McKenzie J, Voss C, et al. 2011. Exchange of groundwater and surface-water mediated by permafrost response to seasonal and long term air temperature variation. Geophys Res Lett, doi: 10.1029/2011 GL047911
Liu G S, Wang G X, Sun X Y. 2012. Variation characteristics of stable isotopes in precipitation and river water in Fenghuoshan permafrost watershed (in Chinese). Adv Water Sci, 23: 621–627
Metcalfe R A, Buttle J M. 2001. Soil partitioning and surface store controls on spring runoff from a boreal forest peatland basin in north-central Manitoba, Canada. Hydrol Process, 15: 2305–2324
Quinton W L, Shirazi T, Carey S K, et al. 2005. Soil water storage and active-layer development in a sub-alpine tundra hillslope, southern Yukon territory, Canada. Permafrost Periglacial Process, 16: 369–382
Walker D A, Jia G J, Epstein H E. 2003. Vegetation-soil-thawing-depth relationships along a low-arctic bioclimate gradient. Alaska: synthesis of information from the ATLAS studies. Permafrost Periglacial Process, 14: 103–123
Wang G X, Li Y S, Wang Y B. 2008. Synergistic effect of vegetation and air temperature changes on soil water content in alpine frost meadow soil in the permafrost region of Tibet. Hydrol Process, 22: 3310–3320
Wang G X, Hu H C, Li T B. 2009. The influence of freeze-thaw cycles of active soil layer on surface runoff in a permafrost watershed. J Hydrol, 375: 438–449
Wang G X, Li Y S, Wang Y B. 2010. Land-Surface Processes and Environmental Changes in River Headwater Regions of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (in Chinese). Beijing: Science Press. 347
Wang G X, Liu G S, Li C J, et al. 2012. The variability of soil thermal and hydrological dynamics with vegetation cover in a permafrost region. Agric For Meteorol, 162–163: 44–57
Woo M K, Kane D L, Carey S K, et al. 2008. Progress in Permafrost Hydrology in the New Millennium. Permafrost Periglacial Process, 19: 237–254
Woo M K. 1992. Impacts of climatic variability and change on Canadian wetlands. Can Water Resour J, 17: 63–69
Woo M K. 2012. Permafrost Hydrology. Heidelberg: Gmbh & Co.K. 576
Wu J C, Sheng Y, Wu Q B, et al. 2009. Discussion on the possibility of taking ground ice in permafrost regions as water sources under climate (in Chinese). J Glaciol Geocryol, 31: 350–356
Wu Q B, Lu Z J, Liu Y Z. 2006. Permafrost changes in the Tibetan Plateau. Adv Clim Change, 2: 77–80
Yang Z N, Yang Z H, Liang F X, et al. 1993. Permafrost hydrological processes in basin of Qilian Mountain (in Chinese). J Glaciol Geocryol, 15: 235–241
Yao T D. 2002. The Cryospheric Dynamic Characteristics of the Central Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House. 308
Zhao Q D, Liu Z, Ye B S. 2010. A snowmelt runoff forecasting model coupling WRF and DHSVM. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci, 13: 1897–1906
Zhou Y W, Guo D X, Qiu G Q, et al. 2002. Geocryology in China (in Chinese). Beijing: Science Press. 450
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chang, J., Wang, G., Li, C. et al. Seasonal dynamics of suprapermafrost groundwater and its response to the freeing-thawing processes of soil in the permafrost region of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Sci. China Earth Sci. 58, 727–738 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-014-5009-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-014-5009-y