Effect of a thermokarst lake on soil physical properties and infiltration processes in the permafrost region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China

• Published in: Science China. Earth sciences Vol. 57; no. 10; pp. 2357 - 2365
• Main Authors: Wang, YiBo, Gao, ZeYong, Wen, Jing, Liu, GuoHua, Geng, Di, Li, XiaoBing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Science China Press 01.10.2014; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Climate change; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Ecosystem stability; Global warming; Hydrology; Infiltration; Infiltration rate; Lakes; Meadows; Permafrost; Physical properties; Research Paper; Soil infiltration; Soil moisture; Soil physical properties; Soil sciences; Soil texture; 中国; 喀斯特; 土壤物理性质; 多年冻土区; 渗透作用; 生态系统稳定性; 稳定入渗率; 青藏高原; Asia, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; China, People's Rep; soil infiltration; thermokarst lake; Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; simulation
• DOI: 10.1007/s11430-014-4906-4
• ISSN: 1674-7313

Changes in the hydrological processes in alpine soil constitute one of the several key problems encountered with studying wa- tershed hydrology and ecosystem stability against the background of global warming. A typically developing thermokarst lake was chosen as a subject for a study using model simulation based on observations of soil physical properties, infiltration pro- cesses, and soil moisture. The results showed that the selected thermokarst lake imposed certain changes on the soil infiltration processes and, with the degree of impact intensifying, the initial infiltration rate decreased. The greatest reduction was achieved in the area of moderate impact. However, the stable infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration gradually increased in the surface layer at a depth of 10 and 20 cm, both decreasing initially and then increasing, which is correlated significantly with soil textures. Moreover, the cumulative infiltration changed in line with steady infiltration rate. Based on a comparative analysis, the Horton model helps better understand the effect on the soil infiltration processes of the cold alpine meadow close to the chosen thermokarst lake. In conclusion, the formation of the thermokarst lake reduced the water holding capacity of the alpine meadow soil and caused the hydraulic conductivity to increase, resulting in the reduction of runoff capacity in the area of the thermokarst lake.