Modeling Regional and Local-scale Permafrost Distribution in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Using Equivalent-elevation Method  

作　　者：LI Jing SHENG Yu WU Jichun WANG Jie ZHANG Bo YE Baisheng ZHANG Xiumin QIN Xiang 

机构地区：[1]State Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China [2]Yunnan Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Kunming 650228, China [3]State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China [4]Qilian Shan Station of Glaciology and Ecologic Environment, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China

出　　处：《Chinese Geographical Science》2012年第3期278-287,共10页中国地理科学（英文版）

基　　金：Under the auspices of Major State Basic Research Development Program of China(No.2010CB951402);National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41101067);Foundation for Excellent Youth Scholars of Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute,Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.Y184A91001);Research Program of State Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering of Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute,Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.SKLFSE-ZQ-10)

摘　　要：This study proposes an equivalent-elevation method to evaluate the integrated effects of latitude and elevation on regional and local-scale permafrost distribution in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,and to model the general permafrost-distribution patterns in regional and local-scale area.It is found that the Gaussian curve―an empirical model describing the relation between variations of altitudinal permafrost lower limit (PLL) and latitude in the Northern Hemisphere―could be applied in regional-and local-scale areas in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in a latitude-sensitive interval of 30°-50°N.The curve was then used to evaluate the latitudinal effect on permafrost distribution through transforming the latitudinal effect into a kind of altitudinal difference of PLL.This study then calculated the local equivalent-elevation value by overlaying the altitudinal difference of PLL onto real elevation at a certain location.The equivalent-elevation method was verified in an experimental subwatershed of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.However,feasibility of the method should be further tested in order to extend for future studies.The use of equivalent-elevation values can build a platform for comparing the regional general permafrost distribution in the plateau,and for basing further evaluations of local factors' effects on regional permafrost distribution.This study proposes an equivalent-elevation method to evaluate the integrated effects of latitude and eleva- tion on regional and local-scale permafrost distribution in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and to model the general perma- frost-distribution patterns in regional and local-scale area. It is found that the Gaussian curve--an empirical model de- scribing the relation between variations of altitudinal permafrost lower limit （PLL） and latitude in the Northern Hemi- sphere-could be applied in regional- and local-scale areas in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in a latitude-sensitive interval of 30°-50°N. The curve was then used to evaluate the latitudinal effect on permafrost distribution through transform- ing the latitudinal effect into a kind of altitudinal difference of PLL. This study then calculated the local equiva- lent-elevation value by overlaying the altitudinal difference of PLL onto real elevation at a certain location. The equivalent-elevation method was verified in an experimental subwatershed of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. However, feasibility of the method should be further tested in order to extend for future studies. The use of equivalent-elevation values can build a platform for comparing the regional general permafrost distribution in the plateau, and for basing further evaluations of local factors＇ effects on regional permafrost distribution.

关 键 词：equivalent-elevation method permafrost distribution permafrost lower limit （PLL） Gaussian curve plat- form function Qinghai-Tibet Plateau 

分 类 号：TN702[电子电信—电路与系统] P642.14[天文地球—工程地质学]