| Title | A process-based model for quantifying the impact of climate change on permafrost thermal regimes |
| Download | Downloads (Preprint) |
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| Licence | Please note the adoption of the Open Government Licence - Canada
supersedes any previous licences. |
| Author | Zhang, Y ; Chen,
W; Cihlar, J |
| Source | Journal of Geophysical Research vol. 108, issue D22, 2003 p. 5-15, https://doi.org/10.1029/2002JD003354  Open Access |
| Image |  |
| Year | 2003 |
| Alt Series | Earth Sciences Sector, Contribution Series 20043166 |
| Publisher | Wiley-Blackwell |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper; on-line; digital |
| File format | pdf |
| Subjects | Nature and Environment; remote sensing; mapping techniques; permafrost; climate effects; climate, arctic; ecosystems; Climate change |
| Illustrations | diagrams; tables; graphs |
| Released | 2003 11 21 |
| Abstract | Air temperature in northern high latitudes has increased at a higher rate than the global mean and is projected to continue increasing at a higher rate. Climate warming can lead to increases in summer
thaw depth and induce permafrost degradation, which may fundamentally alter the structure and functions of northern ecosystems and the lifestyles of northern communities. To address these issues, we developed a process-based model to simulate
permafrost thermal regimes by combining the strength of existing permafrost models and land surface process models. Soil temperature and active layer thickness were determined from solving the heat conduction equation, with the upper boundary
conditions being determined using surface energy balance and the lower boundary conditions being defined as geothermal heat flux at the depth of 35 m. The model integrated the effects of climate, vegetation, soil features and hydrological conditions
based on their effects on energy and water transfer in the soil-vegetation-atmosphere system. The model was validated against the measurements at four sites in Canada. The simulation results were in agreement with the measurements of energy fluxes,
snow depth, soil temperature and thaw depth. These results indicate that this physically based model captured the effects of climate, vegetation and ground conditions on soil temperature and freezing/thawing dynamics, and the model is suitable to
investigate the impacts of transient climate change on soil thermal regimes and permafrost degradation, and their consequent effects on ecosystems dynamics. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 219968 |
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