Impacts of grassland vegetation cover on the active-layer thermal regime, Northeast Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

WANG, G.

Inst. of Mountain Hazards and Environment, CAS and Ministry of Water Resources, Chengdu, Chine

College of Resources and Environment, Univ., Lanzhou, Chine

LIU, L.

Inst. of Mountain Hazards and Environment, CAS and Ministry of Water Resources, Chengdu, Chine

LIU, G.

Inst. of Mountain Hazards and Environment, CAS and Ministry of Water Resources, Chengdu, Chine

HU, H.

College of Resources and Environment, Univ., Lanzhou, Chine

LI, T.

College of Resources and Environment, Univ., Lanzhou, Chine

Description :
The study was conducted in the watershed of the Zuomaokong River in an alpine meadow over a three-year period. A high vegetation cover (93%) delayed thawing and freezing at a given depth relative to sites with lower covers (65%, 30% and 5%). Low vegetation covers exhibited greater annual variability in soil temperatures, and may be more sensitive to changes in air temperature. Low vegetation covers are also linked to higher thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity in the soils. The maintenance of a high vegetation cover on alpine meadows reduces the impact of heat cycling on the permafrost, may minimise the impact of climate change and helps preserve the microenvironment of the soil.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Permafrost and periglacial processes, issn : 1045-6740, 2010, vol. 21, n°. 4, p. 335-344, nombre de pages : 10, Références bibliographiques : 28 ref.

Date :
2010

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Chichester, Wiley

Langue :
Anglais