High spatial density ground thermal measurements in a warming permafrost region, Beiluhe Basin, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Abstract

Air, ground surface, and permafrost surface temperatures are important components of the permafrost thermal regime. However, ground temperatures from one or two boreholes are commonly considered representative of site conditions in permafrost studies despite significant variations in local surface conditions. This makes the evaluation of site-scale temperature variations important for improving the accuracy of permafrost modelling efforts. In this study we analyzed the variability in near-surface ground temperatures in a warming permafrost region using high spatial density borehole measurements to capture variations in surface conditions. Ground temperatures were collected from 72 boreholes drilled to 5 m depth at 8 sites in Beiluhe Basin, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Six sites straddled an alpine meadow ecotone between well- and sparsely-vegetated ground, and two sites were located on slopes with opposing aspects. Air temperatures at the 8 sites were similar with annual mean values ranging from −2.6 to −3.0 °C in 2016–18. In contrast, annual mean surface temperatures exhibited greater variation between sites, so that surface offsets were also variable. Ground surface temperatures were highest at a sloping sunny site, and lowest at a north-facing shady site. The results indicated that surface temperatures were strongly controlled by slope aspect. In contrast, the expected effect of vegetation cover shading was not distinguishable because of variations in soil moisture content between sites. Deeper temperatures at the permafrost surface and at 5 m depth exhibited a similar trend among sites except in an unusual warm transitional area where eolian erosion disturbed the surface vegetation cover. The detailed ground temperature records characterizing within- and between-site variations could be used in future to support the calibration and validation of numerical models of permafrost distribution.