Snow cover and depth of freeze-thaw on the Tibetan Plateau : a case study from 1997 to 1998

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

YANG, M.

State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Inst., Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, Chine

Inst. of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Chine

Dept. of Geography, Univ. of Delaware, Newark, Etats-Unis

YAO, T.

Inst. of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Chine

NELSON, F.E.

Dept. of Geography, Univ. of Delaware, Newark, Etats-Unis

SHIKLOMANOV, N.I.

Dept. of Geography, Univ. of Delaware, Newark, Etats-Unis

GUO, D.

State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Inst., Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, Chine

WANG, C.

College of Atmospheric Sciences, Univ., Lanzhou, Chine

Description :
Observation sites in this study are located primarily along the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibetan) Highway. Analysis is focused on air and soil temperature, soil moisture, freeze-thaw depths, and snow depth in years of normal (1998/1999) and abnormally heavy (1997/1998) snow cover. Results indicate that anomalously deep snow cover influenced the pattern of soil freeze-thaw depth through its control over ground temperature. Snow cover can also contribute to the cooling process through its high albedo. Interannual variations in snow depth have significant implications for the maintenance of Tibetan permafrost.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Physical geography, issn : 0272-3646, 2008, vol. 29, n°. 3, p. 208-221, nombre de pages : 14, Références bibliographiques : 2 p.

Date :
2008

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Abingdon, Taylor and Francis

Langue :
Anglais