Terrestrial Water Storage Changes of Permafrost in the Three-River Source Region of the Tibetan Plateau, China

Abstract

Changes in permafrost influence water balance exchanges in watersheds of cryosphere. Water storage change (WSC) is an important factor in water cycle. We used Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite data to retrieve WSC in the Three-River Source Region and subregions. WSC in four types of permafrost (continuous, seasonal, island, and patchy permafrost) was analyzed during 2003–2010. The result showed that WSC had significant change; it increased by9.06±0.01 mm/a (21.89±0.02×109 m3) over the Three-River Source Region during the study period. The most significant changes of WSC were in continuous permafrost zone, with a total amount of about13.94±0.48×109 m3. The spatial distribution of WSC was in state of gain in the continuous permafrost zone, whereas it was in a state of loss in the other permafrost zones. Little changes of precipitation and runoff occurred in study area, but the WSC increased significantly, according to water balance equation, the changes of runoff and water storage were subtracted from changes of precipitation, and the result showed that changes of evaporation is minus which means the evaporation decreased in the Three-River Source Region during 2003–2010.

Shrinking thermokarst lakes and ponds on the northeastern Qinghai‐Tibet plateau over the past three decades

“…The extensive shrinkage of thermokarst lakes and ponds suggests the internal drainage through expanding or connecting taliks beneath the water bodies. This follows recent studies that reveal an increase in groundwater storage in this area 24,26 . A significant increase in the water storage from SATRs had been identified from 2003 to 2010 based on the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite data 24 .…”

“…In many permafrost regions in Siberia and North America, an increase in groundwater storage was observed, probably because of permafrost degradation 21–23 . This is also observed for many watersheds from the QTP, including the Headwater Area of the Yellow River (HAYR) on the northeastern QTP 24–26 . For example, the potential release rate of ground‐ice melt‐water in the HAYR is contributing to 14.4% of the annual Yellow River streamflow 27 .…”

Streamflow Changes in the Headwater Area of Yellow River, NE Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during 1955–2040 and Their Implications

“…In [62], the authors examined streamflow patterns of two subcatchments in the source area of the Yangtze River Basin and found increasing trends of winter baseflow. On the basis of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite data, the authors of [63] highlighted the overall increase in water storage of catchments on the QTP (2003-2012) and the most significant increase in water storage on the QTP occurs in the zone of continuous permafrost [64]. In permafrost regions in Northeast China, decreasing trends of winter baseflow have also been frequently reported.…”

Changes in flow regimes of the Yellow River in the Headwater Area of the Yellow River on the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, SW China during 1955-2040

“…Song et al (2019) examined streamflow patterns of two sub-catchments in the Yangtze River Basin and noted increasing trends of winter baseflow. On the basis of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite data, Guo et al (2016) highlight water storage on the QTP catchments has undergone an overall increase (2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012) and the most significant increase of change of water storage on the QTP is in continuous permafrost regions (Xu et al, 2016). In northeastern permafrost regions of China, decreasing trends of winter baseflow have also been frequently reported.…”