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Trends in the frozen ground temperature on the Tibetan Plateau simulated by RegCM4.7-CLM4.5

Theoretical and Applied Climatology volume 145, pages 891–901 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

The changing characteristics of the frozen ground are essential indicators of climate change. The soil temperature on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) during 1987–2018 is simulated using the coupled model of RegCM4.7-CLM4.5. The results show that there is a significant warming trend in the soil temperature on the TP, and the warming trend is higher in October–May (0.040 °C∙decade−1) than in June–September (0.026 °C∙decade−1), with the maximum value in February (0.058 °C∙decade−1). Spatially, the warming is most significant in the Three River Source Region (0.15~0.20 °C∙decade−1) and near the Himalayas and Kunlun Mountains (0.20~25 °C∙decade−1), with the warming trend greater in winter and spring than in summer and autumn. Air temperature, total precipitation, maximum snow depth, and maximum frozen ground depth are all significantly correlated to soil temperature. Air temperature (R = 0.851) and total precipitation (R = 0.411) are positively correlated with soil temperature, while maximum snow depth (R = −0.381) and maximum frozen ground depth (R = −0.770) are negatively correlated with it. Air temperature has a strong influence on the soil temperature in all the four seasons, while the effect of the total precipitation is strongest in autumn (R = 0.836). The retarding effects of maximum snow depth and maximum frozen ground depth are strongest in summer (R = −0.772 and −0.35, respectively). The frozen ground on the TP shows a degradation trend, and the consequent hydrological, ecological, and climatic effects deserve sufficient attention.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Nanjing Hurricane Translation for reviewing the English language quality of this paper. We are very grateful for the reviewers and the editor for constructive recommendations and advices. We thank ICTP and ECMWF for providing the model (http://clima-dods.ictp.it/Users/ggiulian/) and data (http://clima-dods.ictp.it/regcm4/).

Author Econtribution

Luo analyzed the data and wrote the paper, Lyu guided the research ideas, and Fang and Liu suggested improvements to the research method and program code.

Availability of data and material

The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Code availability

No code was developed in the current study.

Funding

This research was jointly supported by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research (STEP) Project (2019QZKK0103), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants 41775016, 41975007, and 41905008), and the Scientific Research Foundation of CUIT (KYTZ201822).

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  1. School of Atmospheric Sciences, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, 610225, China

    Jiangxin Luo, Shihua Lyu, Xuewei Fang & Yigang Liu

  2. Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China

    Shihua Lyu

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  1. Jiangxin Luo
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Correspondence to Shihua Lyu.

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Luo, J., Lyu, S., Fang, X. et al. Trends in the frozen ground temperature on the Tibetan Plateau simulated by RegCM4.7-CLM4.5. Theor Appl Climatol 145, 891–901 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-021-03664-3

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