Modeling glacio-hydrological processes in the Himalayas: A review and future perspectives

Geography and sustainability, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5(2), P. 179 - 192

Published: Jan. 13, 2024

The Himalayas and their surrounding areas boast vast glaciers rivaling those in polar regions, supplying vital meltwater to the Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra rivers, supporting over a billion downstream inhabitants for drinking, power, agriculture. With changing runoff patterns due accelerated glacial melt, understanding projecting glacio-hydrological processes these basins is imperative. This review assesses evolution, applications, key challenges diverse glacio-hydrology models across Himalayas, varying complexities like ablation algorithms, glacier dynamics, ice avalanches, permafrost. Previous findings indicate higher melt contributions annual Indus compared Ganges Brahmaputra, with anticipated peak melting latter basins—having less cover—before mid-21st century, contrasting delayed expected basin its larger area. Different modeling studies still have large uncertainties simulated components Himalayan basins; projections of future time vary at different Himalaya sub-basins under CMIP scenarios. We also find that lack reliable meteorological forcing data (particularly precipitation errors) major source uncertainty basins. Furthermore, permafrost degradation compounds challenges, complicating assessments freshwater availability. Urgent measures include establishing comprehensive situ observations, innovating remote-sensing technologies (especially monitoring), advancing integrate glacier, snow, processes. These endeavors are crucial informed policymaking sustainable resource management this pivotal, glacier-dependent ecosystem.

Language: Английский

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Assessing hydrothermal changes in the upper Yellow River Basin amidst permafrost degradation

npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 7(1)

Published: March 2, 2024

Abstract Since the 20th century, temperature on Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) has increased at a rate of 2–3 times that global warming. Consequently, soil and active layer thickness have also increased, which directly caused severe degradation frozen ground QTP. Using hydrological model driven by climate vegetation forcing, spatial temporal changes in hydrothermal characteristics Upper Yellow River Basin (UYRB) from 1960 to 2019 were modeled mechanism was analyzed. During past six decades, UYRB exhibited an increasing trend. The permafrost accompanied thickening layer, reduction maximum depth seasonal frost penetration, continuous extension basin thawing time. This associated with increase moisture content decrease ice content, resulting area one-tenth total UYRB. can profoundly impact processes ecosystems. These findings play critical role designing efficient strategies manage protect serve as valuable reference for understanding consequences globally.

Language: Английский

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Spatiotemporal Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Freeze–Thaw Erosion in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

Remote Sensing, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 16(9), P. 1629 - 1629

Published: May 2, 2024

Freeze–thaw (FT) erosion intensity may exhibit a future increasing trend with climate warming, humidification, and permafrost degradation in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP). The present study provides reference for prevention control of FT QTP, as well protection restoration regional ecological environment. is third major type soil after water wind erosion. Although one types cold regions, it has been studied relatively little past because complexity several influencing factors involvement shallow surface layers at certain depths. QTP an important barrier area China. However, this characterized by harsh climatic fragile environmental conditions, frequent events, making necessary to conduct research on In paper, total 11 meteorological, vegetation, topographic, geomorphological, geological were selected assigned analytic hierarchy process (AHP)-based weights evaluate using comprehensive evaluation index method. addition, single effects further evaluated study. According obtained results, covered 1.61 × 106 km2, accounting 61.33% QTP. moderate strong classes 6.19 105 38.37% results revealed substantial variations spatial distribution Indeed, areas mainly located high mountain hilly part Hoh Xil frozen region.

Language: Английский

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Quantifying the response of runoff to glacier shrinkage and permafrost degradation in a typical cryospheric basin on the Tibetan Plateau

CATENA, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 242, P. 108124 - 108124

Published: May 25, 2024

Language: Английский

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Divergent effects of temperature and precipitation on water flow into the largest lake on the Tibetan Plateau

npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 8(1)

Published: March 30, 2025

Language: Английский

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Potential vegetation greenness changes in the permafrost areas over the Tibetan Plateau under future climate warming

Global and Planetary Change, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 104833 - 104833

Published: April 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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The Cold Biases in the Soil and Surface Air Temperature Simulations of RegCM4.7 Model Over the Tibetan Plateau in Cold Seasons Reduced by Adopting an Improved Snow Cover Fraction Scheme

Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 130(8)

Published: April 25, 2025

Abstract In cold seasons, global and regional climate models exhibit consistent biases in the soil surface air temperature simulations on Tibetan Plateau (TP), while overestimated snow cover fraction (SCF) is treated as one of crucial factors leading to biases. To partially solve this issue, study adopts an improved SCF scheme that adequately consider impact sub‐grid terrain relief into Regional Climate Model version 4.7 (RegCM4.7) coupled with CLM4.5 land model enhance skill. Results show adopting RegCM4.7 can significantly reduce overestimation TP produced by original model, obvious improvements albedo, seasons. Mechanism analysis indicates suppresses rapid increase snowfall makes ground more difficult be fully covered snow, resulting obviously reduced thereafter albedo decreased. It further causes absorb solar radiation then heat released overlying atmosphere deep soils. Thereafter, seasons clearly reduced. This highlights considering topography numerical effective ways for reducing TP.

Language: Английский

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Hydrological Changes Caused by Integrated Warming, Wetting, and Greening in Permafrost Regions of the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau

Water Resources Research, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 61(4)

Published: April 1, 2025

Abstract The Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (QTP) has undergone significant warming, wetting, and greening (WWG) over decades, alongside substantial alterations in hydrological regimes. These changes present great challenges for safeguarding water resources ecosystems downstream. However, the lack of field observation systematic research obscured our understanding how processes respond to combined influences climate‐permafrost‐vegetation. This study focuses on source regions Yangtze River, one highest permafrost‐covered basins QTP, employs a process‐based model quantify effects WWG processes. We show that increasing precipitation dominates subsurface runoff while rising temperature primarily affects surface by reducing frozen duration (−52 days/century) thickening active layer (+2.4 cm/year). Greening vegetation transpiration interception evaporation. Warming, will cause transition dynamics from dominance permafrost basins, reduce risk both flooding shortage indicated decreased maximum low flow high 11.0 5.0 days/year, respectively. Moreover, cold exhibit greater propensity generating runoff, as higher annual increase coefficient (0.005/year) total (4.81 mm/year), compared warm (with 0.001/year 1.20 mm/year, respectively). findings enhance due provide insights management under climate change.

Language: Английский

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Observed Changes in Seasonal Surface Soil Freeze‒Thaw Cycles in China and Subregions From 1981 to 2017 and Their Relationships With Meteorological Elements

Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 130(7)

Published: April 5, 2025

Abstract Given the considerable influence of surface soil freeze‒thaw cycles on energy balance, hydrological processes, and ecosystems, there is significant interest in exploring changes context climate warming. In this study, we investigated duration seasonal across China subregions divided by ecosystem types (temperate warm‒temperate deserts northwestern China, temperate grasslands Inner Mongolia, humid subhumid zones northeastern North high‒elevation cold Tibetan Plateau) from 1981 to 2017 examined their relationships with meteorological elements using both homogenized weather station data gridded observations. The results showed that freeze start date has been delayed 8.6 days end advanced days, resulting a shortened 17.2 China. This change was most pronounced Plateau, 25.2 weakest present Nationwide, decreasing trend first increased but then decreased increasing elevation, it consistently latitude. Changes are significantly correlated following factors: air temperature spring, autumn winter, snow depth winter; vegetation autumn. Distinct regional differences exist these relationships. These provide new understanding cycle causes

Language: Английский

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Divergent vegetation greening's direct impacts on land-atmosphere water and carbon exchanges in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau

Global and Planetary Change, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 104825 - 104825

Published: April 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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