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Numeric simulation of permafrost degradation in the eastern Tibetan Plateau
Author(s) -
Li Dongqing,
Chen Jin,
Meng Qingzhou,
Liu Dengke,
Fang Jianhong,
Liu Jiankun
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
permafrost and periglacial processes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.867
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1099-1530
pISSN - 1045-6740
DOI - 10.1002/ppp.611
Subject(s) - permafrost , plateau (mathematics) , geology , bedrock , table (database) , geomorphology , water content , hydrology (agriculture) , soil science , physical geography , geotechnical engineering , geography , oceanography , computer science , data mining , mathematical analysis , mathematics
Rates of permafrost degradation at both the permafrost table and the base of permafrost were simulated using a prescribed rate of increase in mean annual air temperatures of 0.04°C/a for a site in continuous permafrost near Changshitou Mountain, eastern Tibetan Plateau. The results indicate that over 110 years, the permafrost table descends from a depth of 1.20 m to 1.48 m, and that the base of permafrost rises from the initial value of 55.0 m to 15.2 m. The predicted rate of basal permafrost degradation in low moisture content bedrock reaches a peak of 0.58 m/a after 60 years, assuming a constant thermal gradient at the base of 0.018°C/m. The permafrost is persistent due to the ice‐rich nature of the near‐surface soil layers. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.