Spatial Analyses and Susceptibility Modeling of Thermokarst Lakes in Permafrost Landscapes along the Qinghai–Tibet Engineering Corridor

Guoan Yin,Fujun Niu,Fujun Zhou,Minghao Liu,Xianglian Meng,Zhanju Lin,Jing Luo

doi:10.3390/rs13101974

Abstract

Thermokarst lakes (TLs) caused by the thaw of massive ground ice in ice-rich permafrost landscapes are increasing and have strong impacts on the hydro–ecological environment and human infrastructure on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP), however, its spatial distribution characteristics and environmental controls have not been underrepresented at the local scale. Here, we analyzed the spatial distribution of small TLs along the Qinghai–Tibet Engineering Corridor (QTEC) based on high-resolution (up to 2.0 m) satellite images. The TLs gathered in the plains and upland plateau and covered 8.3% of the QTEC land. We deployed a random-frost method to investigate the suitable environmental conditions for TLs. Climate including summer rainfall and the air temperature was the most important factor controlling the TL distribution, followed by topography and soil characteristics that affected the ground ice content. TL susceptibility was mapped based on the combinations of climate, soil, and topography grid data. On average, around 20% of the QTEC area was in a high to very-high-susceptibility zone that is likely to develop TLs in response to climate change. This study improved the understanding of controlling factors for TL development but also provided insights into the conditions of massive ground ice and was helpful to assess the impacts of climate change on ecosystem processes and engineering design.

Highlights

15% of the northern land surface is covered by permafrost, which is defined as ground that remains frozen for two or more consecutive years [1]
34,915 water bodies were classified as thermokarst lakes (TLs), which had an area ranging from 17.6 m2 to 944,600 m2
These TLs had a total area of 187.6 km2 that covered 8.3% of the total

Summary

Introduction

15% (ca. 13.6 × 106 km2 ) of the northern land surface is covered by permafrost, which is defined as ground that remains frozen for two or more consecutive years [1]. 13.6 × 106 km2 ) of the northern land surface is covered by permafrost, which is defined as ground that remains frozen for two or more consecutive years [1]. Field observations of the ground temperature provide evidence that the permafrost is degrading (warming and thawing) at the global scale in response to climate change [2]. This degradation is expected to continue in the future decades following the predicted climate warming in the high arctic and at high altitudes [3,4]. Climate warming in most QTP has resulted in the noticeable warming and thawing of permafrost [10,11,12]

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Conclusion