An aggregation framework to diagnose the compound hydroclimatic change of the Tibetan Plateau using multiple reanalysis data

Abstract

Study regionThis study was carried on Tibetan Plateau (TP), which is recognized as the “Third Pole” and “Asia Water Tower”. Study focusTP is suffering extreme hydroclimatic change under global climate warming. Quantifying the hydroclimatic change pattern and strength is necessary to protect local to downstream hydrology and water resources. This study promoted an aggregation framework to diagnose the compound hydroclimatic change on TP using several high-resolution reanalysis data. New hydrological insights for the regionThe promoted aggregation framework is efficient to diagnose the compound hydroclimatic change on TP. Both individual applied data and compound result indicate a warming and wetting environment on most TP, combined with increased trend of evapotranspiration (ET) and soil moisture (SM), while decreased trend of runoff (ROF). The hotspots with strong hydroclimatic change mainly located at inner-southeast TP and northeast TP, including Changtang Plateau, sources of Yellow-Yangtze-Mekong-Salween-Brahmaputra river basin, and Qaidam Basin. The compound warming strength is above 0.06 Celsius/mon/a in winter while the wetting trend is above 0.5 mm/mon/a in summer at most hotspots. ET is increased with trend above 0.1 mm/mon/a in spring, summer, autumn at most hotspots. SM is drying at south periphery while wetting at the remaining area with annual and seasonal trend above 0.0005 mm3/mm3/mon/a at hotspots. ROF is decreased with trend above 2 mm/mon/a at south-southeast hotspots in summer and autumn.