Title: Permafrost Distribution Using Sub-region Classification and Multivariate DatPermafrost Data in theWenquan Area over the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Abstract:The Wenquan area is located in the southeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau.Administratively,it extends across four counties,Xinghai,Maduo,Maqin and Dulan of the Qinghai Province,western China.I...The Wenquan area is located in the southeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau.Administratively,it extends across four counties,Xinghai,Maduo,Maqin and Dulan of the Qinghai Province,western China.It is a transitional area from the seasonally frozen soil to permafrost.In order to understand distribution patterns of permafrost in the area,a comprehensive field exploration was carried out,from September to October,in 2009.Based on the methods of field exploration,as well as theoretic analysis and model building in doors and the data of digital elevation model and field,it was found that aspect has important influence on the distribution of permafrost.In this paper, sub-region classification method was proposed to deal with the distribution of permafrost because of the impact of complex terrain.For the plain area,the permafrost distribution map in Kuhai area was completed by the expert knowledge and other areas'maps which completed by means of annual ground temperature model.For the mountain area,the effects of aspect on the distribution of permafrost were studied quantitatively and a permafrost distribution model was constructed.Taking ground temperatures of permafrost as classification principles,the distribution map of permafrost and the spatial distribution patterns analysis were carried out.The results showed that the area of permafrost was 1 681.4 km2,accounting for 66.7% of the whole area.The transitional and sub-stable permafrost were the major types of permafrost,accounting for 50.8% of the whole area;unstable permafrost was accounted for about 11.4% of the total area,yet the percentage of stable and extreme-stable were smaller relatively,the percentage was 4.4% and 0.2% respectively.From the distribution pattern of permafrost,vertical zoning characteristics were demonstrated in the distribution of permafrost,i.e.,the type of frozen ground would be altered with the increase of altitude and the decrease of permafrost ground temperature.A change was that seasonal frozen ground changed into unstable permafrost,then transitional permafrost,then substable permafrost,then stable permafrost, and extremely stable permafrost eventually with the increase of elevation.Read More
Publication Year: 2012
Publication Date: 2012-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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