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Land-Atmosphere Interactions and Effects on the Climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions II

A special issue of Remote Sensing (ISSN 2072-4292). This special issue belongs to the section "Atmospheric Remote Sensing".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 June 2023) | Viewed by 28394

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Yaoming Ma

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100101, China
Interests: water cycle; evapotranspiration and evaporation; atmospheric boundary layer; satellite remote sensing application
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Li Jia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100101, China
Interests: earth observations for terrestrial water cycle study; evapotranspiration; water resource; land surface process; optical-thermal remote sensing; climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Massimo Menenti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
2. Department of Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, 2628 Delft, The Netherlands
Interests: land surface processes; terrestrial water cycle; water management; optical remote sensing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Lei Zhong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
Interests: application of remote sensing; energy and water cycle; land-atmosphere interaction; hydrometorology; atmospheric boundary layer process
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This is the 2nd volume of the Special Issue “Land-Atmosphere Interactions and Effects on the Climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions”, it was a great success. Based on the previous research results, this volume is aimed at the presentation of recent advances in Land-Atmosphere interactions and effects on the climate of the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding regions.

The Tibetan Plateau is also known as the roof of the world and the third pole of the Earth.  Energy and water exchange at the heterogeneous interface of the plateau land surface with the atmosphere is great and rapidly varying. This land–atmosphere interaction has profound impacts on atmospheric circulation and climate conditions over the Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding regions, as well. In the context of global warming, the Tibetan Plateau itself is becoming warmer and wetter. In recent decades, both polar orbiting and geostationary satellites have been providing vital information to form a better understanding of land–atmosphere interactions and the related climate effects in the third pole region. Large research efforts have been focusing on the retrieval of key land-surface properties, i.e., land-surface temperature, NDVI, albedo, soil moisture, and land-surface heat fluxes. These observations are a vital source of information to monitor the variations in snow, glaciers, lakes, and other hydro-meteorological processes on the Tibetan Plateau. A rapidly growing body of knowledge documents how land–atmosphere interactions and their climatic effects have been revealed using multispectral, hyperspectral, thermal, and microwave remote sensing data.

This Special Issue will showcase successful recent endeavors in studies covering applications of multisource remote sensing data regarding land–atmosphere interactions and their effects on the climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions. The subject relates to the multi-disciplinary intersection of atmospheric and hydro-meteorological science with remote sensing. It fits well within the scope of the journal.

Contributions may address research questions ranging from the retrieval of land-surface variables and land-surface heat fluxes at different spatial and temporal scales to the monitoring of variations in snow, glaciers, lakes, and other land-surface covers. Hence, studies focused on land-surface processes, hydro-meteorological processes, and their climate impacts based on the combined use of multisource data, e.g., remote sensing data and in situ measurements, are welcome. Articles may address but are not limited to the following topics:

  • Retrieval of land-surface key properties;
  • Estimation of land-surface heat fluxes;
  • Land-surface heating and its impacts on the atmospheric boundary layer;
  • Estimation of atmospheric heating sources;
  • Climate effects of land–atmosphere interactions;
  • Parameterization of radiation fluxes;
  • Evapotranspiration modeling;
  • Time series analysis and effect studies;
  • Monitoring of glacier and glacial lakes;
  • Remote sensing of hydrological processes;
  • Vegetation dynamics and its response to weather and climate; and
  • Remote sensing-based drought assessment and monitoring.

Prof. Dr. Yaoming Ma
Prof. Dr. Li Jia
Prof. Dr. Massimo Menenti
Prof. Dr. Lei Zhong
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Remote Sensing is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • land–atmosphere interactions
  • radiation flux
  • sensible and latent heat fluxes
  • land-surface heating
  • atmospheric heating sources
  • atmospheric boundary layer
  • climate effects
  • evapotranspiration
  • land-surface temperature
  • vegetation dynamics
  • soil moisture
  • machine learning
  • validation and evaluation

Published Papers (19 papers)

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Editorial

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4 pages, 189 KiB  
Editorial
Land–Atmosphere Interactions and Effects on the Climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions II
by Yaoming Ma, Lei Zhong, Li Jia and Massimo Menenti
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(18), 4540; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15184540 - 15 Sep 2023
Viewed by 538
Abstract
As the world’s highest and largest plateau, the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is referred to as ‘the Asian Water Tower’ and ‘the Third Pole of the World’ [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land-Atmosphere Interactions and Effects on the Climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions II)

Research

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17 pages, 6997 KiB  
Article
Dynamics of Freezing/Thawing Indices and Frozen Ground from 1961 to 2010 on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
by Xuewei Fang, Anqi Wang, Shihua Lyu and Klaus Fraedrich
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(14), 3478; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15143478 - 10 Jul 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 842
Abstract
Freezing/thawing indices are important indicators of the dynamics of frozen ground on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), especially in areas with limited observations. Based on the numerical outputs of Community Land Surface Model version 4.5 (CLM4.5) from 1961 to 2010, this study compared the [...] Read more.
Freezing/thawing indices are important indicators of the dynamics of frozen ground on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), especially in areas with limited observations. Based on the numerical outputs of Community Land Surface Model version 4.5 (CLM4.5) from 1961 to 2010, this study compared the spatial and temporal variations between air freezing/thawing indices (2 m above the ground) and ground surface freezing/thawing indices in permafrost and seasonally frozen ground (SFG) across the QTP after presenting changes in frozen ground distribution in each decade in the context of warming and wetting. The results indicate that an area of 0.60 × 106 km2 of permafrost in the QTP degraded to SFG in the 1960s–2000s, and the primary shrinkage period occurred in the 2000s. The air freezing index (AFI) and ground freezing index (GFI) decreased dramatically at rates of 71.00 °C·d/decade and 34.33 °C·d/decade from 1961 to 2010, respectively. In contrast, the air thawing index (ATI) and ground thawing index (GTI) increased strikingly, with values of 48.13 °C·d/decade and 40.37 °C·d/decade in the past five decades, respectively. Permafrost showed more pronounced changes in freezing/thawing indices since the 1990s compared to SFG. The changes in thermal regimes in frozen ground showed close relations to air warming until the late 1990s, especially in 1998, when the QTP underwent the most progressive warming. However, a sharp increase in the annual precipitation from 1998 began to play a more controlling role in thermal degradation in frozen ground than the air warming in the 2000s. Meanwhile, the following vegetation expansion hiatus further promotes the thermal instability of frozen ground in this highly wet period. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land-Atmosphere Interactions and Effects on the Climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions II)
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21 pages, 14583 KiB  
Article
Creation and Verification of a High-Resolution Multi-Parameter Surface Meteorological Assimilation Dataset for the Tibetan Plateau for 2010–2020 Available Online
by Xiaohang Wen, Xian Zhu, Maoshan Li, Mei Chen, Shaobo Zhang, Xianyu Yang, Zhiyuan Zheng, Yikun Qin, Yu Zhang and Shihua Lv
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(11), 2906; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15112906 - 02 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 943
Abstract
The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) is a crucial component of the global climate system, influencing the regional and global climate through complex thermal and dynamic mechanisms. The high-altitude region, which is the largest part of the extra-polar cryosphere, encompasses extensive mountain glaciers, permafrost, and [...] Read more.
The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) is a crucial component of the global climate system, influencing the regional and global climate through complex thermal and dynamic mechanisms. The high-altitude region, which is the largest part of the extra-polar cryosphere, encompasses extensive mountain glaciers, permafrost, and seasonally frozen land, making it highly sensitive to global climate change. However, the challenging environmental conditions, such as the harsh terrain and high altitude, coupled with sparse weather station distribution and weak observatory representation, make it difficult to accurately quantify the atmospheric conditions and land–atmosphere coupling systems and their effects on the surrounding areas. To address these challenges, we utilized the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and a three-dimensional variational (3DVAR) assimilation method to create a high-resolution assimilated dataset (HRAD). The QTP-HRAD, covering the spatial range of 70 to 110°E and 25 to 40°N, was validated using both surface weather station observations and the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis V5, and can now be utilized for further studies on land–atmosphere interactions, water cycling and radiation energy transfer processes, and extreme weather events in the region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land-Atmosphere Interactions and Effects on the Climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions II)
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21 pages, 39138 KiB  
Article
Annual and Seasonal Trends of Vegetation Responses and Feedback to Temperature on the Tibetan Plateau since the 1980s
by Fangfang Wang, Yaoming Ma, Roshanak Darvishzadeh and Cunbo Han
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(9), 2475; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15092475 - 08 May 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1686
Abstract
The vegetation–temperature relationship is crucial in understanding land–atmosphere interactions on the Tibetan Plateau. Although many studies have investigated the connections between vegetation and climate variables in this region using remote sensing technology, there remain notable gaps in our understanding of vegetation–temperature interactions over [...] Read more.
The vegetation–temperature relationship is crucial in understanding land–atmosphere interactions on the Tibetan Plateau. Although many studies have investigated the connections between vegetation and climate variables in this region using remote sensing technology, there remain notable gaps in our understanding of vegetation–temperature interactions over different timescales. Here, we combined site-level air temperature observations, information from the global inventory modeling and mapping studies (GIMMS) dataset, and moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) products to analyze the spatial and temporal patterns of air temperature, vegetation, and land surface temperature (LST) on the Tibetan Plateau at annual and seasonal scales. We achieved these spatiotemporal patterns by using Sen’s slope, sequential Mann–Kendall tests, and partial correlation analysis. The timescale differences of vegetation-induced LST were subsequently discussed. Our results demonstrate that a breakpoint of air temperature change occurred on the Tibetan Plateau during 1994–1998, dividing the study period (1982–2013) into two phases. A more significant greening response of NDVI occurred in the spring and autumn with earlier breakpoints and a more sensitive NDVI response occurred in recent warming phase. Both MODIS and GIMMS data showed a common increase in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) on the Tibetan Plateau for all timescales, while the former had a larger greening area since 2000. The most prominent trends in NDVI and LST were identified in spring and autumn, respectively, and the largest areas of significant variation in NDVI and LST mostly occurred in winter and autumn, respectively. The partial correlation analysis revealed a significant negative impact of NDVI on LST during the annual scale and autumn, and it had a significant positive impact during spring. Our findings improve the general understanding of vegetation–climate relationships at annual and seasonal scales. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land-Atmosphere Interactions and Effects on the Climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions II)
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17 pages, 10434 KiB  
Article
Spatiotemporal Variation Characteristics of Groundwater Storage and Its Driving Factors and Ecological Effects in Tibetan Plateau
by Wenhao Ren, Yanyan Gao, Hui Qian, Yaoming Ma, Zhongbo Su, Weiqiang Ma, Yu Liu and Panpan Xu
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(9), 2418; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15092418 - 05 May 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1572
Abstract
Known as the “Asian Water Tower”, the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is a rich water resource and serves an important ecological function. Climate change may cause changes to the water cycle, and these changes may affect the alpine vegetation growth. However, the variation characteristics [...] Read more.
Known as the “Asian Water Tower”, the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is a rich water resource and serves an important ecological function. Climate change may cause changes to the water cycle, and these changes may affect the alpine vegetation growth. However, the variation characteristics of groundwater storage (GWS) and its driving factors and associated ecological effects in the TP are poorly understood. In this study, terrestrial water storage changes retrieved by GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) were combined with GLDAS (Global Land Data Assimilation System) to estimate the GWS changes in the TP. The temporal and spatial variation characteristics of GWS were identified using linear regression and the modified Mann–Kendall (MMK) test, respectively. The analyses showed that the GWS of the TP decreased at an average rate of −0.89 mm/a from January 2003 to December 2021, but since January 2016, it gradually recovered at a rate of 1.47 mm/a. This shows that the GWS in the eastern and northern parts of the TP is decreasing, while the GWS in the western and southern parts is increasing. The influence of climate change on GWS in time and space was determined using the correlation analysis method. Decreased precipitation and permafrost degradation caused by increasing temperatures will lead to a decrease in GWS. On the other hand, rising temperatures may result in an increase in GWS in regions where glaciers are distributed. In this study, the ecological effects were represented by the relationship between GWS and vegetation change. A decline in GWS means that the vegetation will not receive enough water, leading to a decrease in the NDVI and the eventual degradation of grassland to sand, desert, or other kinds of unused land on the TP. On the other hand, an increase in GWS would promote vegetation restoration. The results of this study offer a new opportunity to reveal the groundwater changes in a cryosphere region and to assess the impact of changes in hydrological conditions on ecology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land-Atmosphere Interactions and Effects on the Climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions II)
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25 pages, 10435 KiB  
Article
Relationships between Landscape Patterns and Hydrological Processes in the Subtropical Monsoon Climate Zone of Southeastern China
by Chong Wei, Xiaohua Dong, Yaoming Ma, Menghui Leng, Wenyi Zhao, Chengyan Zhang, Dan Yu and Bob Su
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(9), 2290; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15092290 - 26 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1488
Abstract
With rapid economic development, extensive human activity has changed landscape patterns (LPs) dramatically, which has further influenced hydrological processes. However, the effects of LPs changes on hydrological processes, especially for the streamflow–sediment relationship in the subtropical monsoon climate zone, have not been reported. [...] Read more.
With rapid economic development, extensive human activity has changed landscape patterns (LPs) dramatically, which has further influenced hydrological processes. However, the effects of LPs changes on hydrological processes, especially for the streamflow–sediment relationship in the subtropical monsoon climate zone, have not been reported. In our study, 10 watersheds with different sizes in the subtropical monsoon climate zone of southeastern China were chosen as the study area, and the effect of the 14 most commonly used landscape metrics (LMs) on 4 typical hydrological indices (water yields (WY), the runoff coefficient (RC), the soil erosion modulus (SEM), and the suspended sediment concentration (SSC)) were analyzed based on land use maps and hydrological data from 1990 to 2019. The results reveal that the LP characteristics within the study area have changed significantly. The number of patches and landscape shape indices were significantly positively correlated with watershed size (p < 0.01). For most watersheds, the largest patch index was negatively correlated with WY, RC, and SEM, and the perimeter area fractal dimension was positively correlated with WY, RC, SEM, and SSC. The effects of several LMs on the hydrological indices had scale effects. WY/RC and the interspersion and juxtaposition index were negatively correlated in most larger watersheds but were positively correlated in most smaller watersheds. Similar results were found for Shannon’s diversity/evenness index and SEM. In general, an increase in a small patch of landscape and in landscape diversity would increase WY, the fragmentation of LPs would result in more soil erosion, and LPs would affect the relationship between streamflow and sediment yield. As a result, a proper decrease in landscape fragmentation and physical connectivity in the subtropical monsoon climate zone of southeastern China would benefit soil erosion prevention. These results enhance the knowledge about the relationship between LPs and hydrological processes in the subtropical monsoon climate zone of southeastern China and benefit local water and soil conservation efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land-Atmosphere Interactions and Effects on the Climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions II)
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19 pages, 16851 KiB  
Article
Dynamic Effects of Atmosphere over and around the Tibetan Plateau on the Sustained Drought in Southwest China from 2009 to 2014
by Yiwei Ye, Rongxiang Tian and Zhan Jin
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(8), 2198; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15082198 - 21 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1238
Abstract
The two westerly branches have a significant impact on the climate of the area on the eastern side of the Tibetan Plateau when flowing around it. A continuous drought event in Southwest China from the winter of 2009 to the spring of 2014 [...] Read more.
The two westerly branches have a significant impact on the climate of the area on the eastern side of the Tibetan Plateau when flowing around it. A continuous drought event in Southwest China from the winter of 2009 to the spring of 2014 caused huge economic losses. This research focuses on the dynamic field anomalies over the Tibetan Plateau during this event using statistical analysis, attempts to decipher its mechanism on drought in Southwest China, and provides a regression model. We established that the anticyclone and downdraft over the Tibetan Plateau were weaker than usual during the drought, which would reduce the southward cold airflow on the northeast of the Tibetan Plateau and strengthen the west wind from dry central Asia on the south of the plateau. As a result, a larger area of the southwest region in China was controlled by the warm and dry air mass, which was acting against precipitation. The results will be of reference value to the drought forecast for Southwest China, and also encourage further research about how the Tibetan Plateau influence the climate on its eastern side. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land-Atmosphere Interactions and Effects on the Climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions II)
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Graphical abstract

13 pages, 5572 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Spatial and Temporal Variations in the Difference between Soil and Air Temperatures on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau Using Reanalysis Data Products
by Xiqiang Wang and Rensheng Chen
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(7), 1894; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15071894 - 31 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1235
Abstract
Many extreme meteorological events are closely related to the strength of land–atmosphere interactions. In this study, the heat exchange regime between the shallow soil layer and the atmosphere over the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) was investigated using a reanalysis dataset. The analysis was conducted [...] Read more.
Many extreme meteorological events are closely related to the strength of land–atmosphere interactions. In this study, the heat exchange regime between the shallow soil layer and the atmosphere over the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) was investigated using a reanalysis dataset. The analysis was conducted using a simple metric ΔT, defined as the difference between the temperatures of the shallow soil and the air. First, the performance of 4 widely used reanalysis data products (GLDAS-Noah, NCEP-R2, ERA5 and ERA5-land) in estimating ΔT on the QTP at soil depths of 0~7 or 0~10 cm was evaluated during the baseline period (1981–2010); the ERA5-land product was selected for subsequent analysis, because it yielded a better performance in estimating the annual and seasonal ΔT and finer spatial resolution than the other datasets. Using the soil temperature at depths of 0~7 cm and the air temperature at 2 m above the ground, as provided by the ERA5-Land reanalysis dataset, the entire QTP was found to be dominated by a positive ΔT both annually and seasonally during the baseline period, with large differences in the spatial distribution of the seasonal values of ΔT. From 1950 to 2021, the QTP experienced a significant decreasing trend in the annual ΔT at a rate of −0.07 °C/decade, and obvious decreases have also been detected at the seasonal level (except in spring). In the southern and northeastern parts of the QTP, rapid rates of decrease in the annual ΔT were detected, and the areas with significantly decreasing trends in ΔT were found to increase in size gradually from summer, through autumn, to winter. This study provides a holistic view of the spatiotemporal variations in ΔT on the QTP, and the findings can improve our understanding of the land–atmosphere thermal interactions in this region and provide important information pertaining to regional ecological diversity, hydrology, agricultural activity and infrastructural stability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land-Atmosphere Interactions and Effects on the Climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions II)
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12 pages, 3227 KiB  
Communication
Simulated Trends in Land Surface Sensible Heat Flux on the Tibetan Plateau in Recent Decades
by Shuzhou Wang, Yaoming Ma and Yuxin Liu
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(3), 714; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15030714 - 25 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1283
Abstract
The spatial distribution and temporal variation of land surface sensible heat (SH) flux on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) for the period of 1981–2018 were studied using the simulation results from the Noah-MP land surface model. The simulated SH fluxes were also compared with [...] Read more.
The spatial distribution and temporal variation of land surface sensible heat (SH) flux on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) for the period of 1981–2018 were studied using the simulation results from the Noah-MP land surface model. The simulated SH fluxes were also compared with the simulation results from the SEBS model and the results derived from 80 meteorological stations. It is found that, much larger annual mean SH fluxes occurred on the western and central TP compared with the eastern TP. Meanwhile, the inter-annual variations of SH fluxes on the central and western TP were larger than that on the eastern TP. The SEBS simulation showed much larger inter-annual variations than did the Noah-MP simulation across most of the TP. There was a trend of decrease in SH flux from the mid-1980s to the beginning of the 21st century in the Noah-MP simulations. Both Noah-MP and SEBS showed an increasing SH flux trend after this period of decrease. The increasing trend appeared on the eastern TP later than on the western and central TP. In the Noah-MP simulation, the western and central TP showed larger values of temperature difference between the ground surface and air (Ts–Ta) than did the eastern TP. Both mean Ts–Ta and wind speed decreased from the mid-1980s to approximately 2000, and then increased slightly. However, the Ts–Ta transition occurred later than that of wind speed. Changes in mean ground surface temperature (Ts) were the main cause of the decreasing and increasing trends in SH flux on the TP. Meanwhile, changes in wind speed contributed substantially to the decreasing trend in SH flux before 1998. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land-Atmosphere Interactions and Effects on the Climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions II)
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17 pages, 4807 KiB  
Article
A New Drought Monitoring Index on the Tibetan Plateau Based on Multisource Data and Machine Learning Methods
by Meilin Cheng, Lei Zhong, Yaoming Ma, Xian Wang, Peizhen Li, Zixin Wang and Yuting Qi
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(2), 512; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15020512 - 15 Jan 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1982
Abstract
Drought is a major disaster over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) that exerts great impacts on natural ecosystems and agricultural production. Furthermore, most drought indices are only useful for assessing drought conditions on a coarse temporal scale. Drought indices that describe drought evolution at [...] Read more.
Drought is a major disaster over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) that exerts great impacts on natural ecosystems and agricultural production. Furthermore, most drought indices are only useful for assessing drought conditions on a coarse temporal scale. Drought indices that describe drought evolution at a fine temporal scale are still scarce. In this study, four machine learning methods, including random forest regression (RFR), k-nearest neighbor regression (KNNR), support vector regression (SVR), and extreme gradient boosting regression (XGBR), were used to construct daily drought indices based on multisource remote sensing and reanalysis data. Through comparison with in situ soil moisture (SM) over the TP, our results indicate that the drought index based on the XGBR model outperforms other models (R2 = 0.76, RMSE = 0.11, MAE = 0.08), followed by RFR (R2 = 0.74, RMSE = 0.11, MAE = 0.08), KNNR (R2 = 0.73, RMSE = 0.11, MAE = 0.08) and SVR (R2 = 0.66, RMSE = 0.12, MAE = 0.1). A new daily drought index, the standardized integrated drought index (SIDI), was developed by the XGBR model for monitoring agricultural drought. A comparison with ERA5-Land SM and widely used indices such as SPI-6 and SPEI-6 indicated that the SIDI depicted the dry and wet change characteristics of the plateau well. Furthermore, the SIDI was applied to analyze a typical drought event and reasonably characterize the spatiotemporal patterns of drought evolution, demonstrating its capability and superiority for drought monitoring over the TP. In addition, soil properties accounted for 59.5% of the model output, followed by meteorological conditions (35.8%) and topographic environment (4.7%). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land-Atmosphere Interactions and Effects on the Climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions II)
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17 pages, 6900 KiB  
Article
Responses of Soil Freeze–Thaw Processes to Climate on the Tibetan Plateau from 1980 to 2016
by Chunwei Fu, Zeyong Hu, Yaoxian Yang, Mingshan Deng, Haipeng Yu, Shan Lu, Di Wu and Weiwei Fan
Remote Sens. 2022, 14(23), 5907; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14235907 - 22 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1172
Abstract
Soil freeze–thaw processes are remarkable features of the land surface across the Tibetan Plateau (TP). Soil moisture and temperature fluctuate during the freeze–thaw cycle, affecting the soil water and energy exchange between the land and atmosphere. This study investigates variations in the soil [...] Read more.
Soil freeze–thaw processes are remarkable features of the land surface across the Tibetan Plateau (TP). Soil moisture and temperature fluctuate during the freeze–thaw cycle, affecting the soil water and energy exchange between the land and atmosphere. This study investigates variations in the soil temperature, humidity, and freeze–thaw state and their responses to air temperature and precipitation on the TP from 1981 to 2016. Regional simulations of the TP using Community Land Model version 4.5 demonstrate that the climate of the TP has become warmer and wetter over the past 37 years, with increases in both regional average temperature and precipitation. Using empirical orthogonal function analysis and the Mann–Kendall trend test of air temperature, we show that 1980–1998 was relatively cold, and 1999–2016 was relatively warm. Soil temperature and moisture in most areas of the TP were affected by air temperature and precipitation, and both showed an upward trend during the past 37 years. Overall, from 1981 to 2016, the freezing date of the TP has become delayed, the thawing date has been hastened, and the duration of the freeze–thaw state has shortened. The surface soil freezes and thaws first, and these processes pervade deeper soil with the passage of time; freeze–thaw processes have an obvious hysteresis. Precipitation and air temperature had marked effects on the freeze–thaw processes. Higher air temperatures delay the freezing date, hasten the thawing date, and shorten the freeze–thaw period. Areas with the highest precipitation saw late soil freeze, early thaw, and the shortest freeze–thaw duration. Areas with less vegetation froze earlier and thawed later. The freeze–thaw duration increased in the northwest of the plateau and decreased on the rest of the plateau. This article informs research on frozen soil change in the context of global warming. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land-Atmosphere Interactions and Effects on the Climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions II)
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23 pages, 4093 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Spatial and Temporal Variations of Condensation and Desublimation over the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau Based on Penman Model Using Hourly ERA5-Land and ERA5 Reanalysis Datasets
by Hongyuan Li, Rensheng Chen, Chuntan Han and Yong Yang
Remote Sens. 2022, 14(22), 5815; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14225815 - 17 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1499
Abstract
Condensation and desublimation are important processes of nocturnal land–atmosphere interactions, energy transfer, and the water cycle, and have important ecological and hydrological roles in mitigating physiological water deficits caused by low temperatures and reducing the risk of frost damage to plants, animals, and [...] Read more.
Condensation and desublimation are important processes of nocturnal land–atmosphere interactions, energy transfer, and the water cycle, and have important ecological and hydrological roles in mitigating physiological water deficits caused by low temperatures and reducing the risk of frost damage to plants, animals, and microorganisms near the surface in the Alpine Region. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the spatial and temporal variations of condensation and desublimation from 1950 to 2020 based on Penman model using hourly ERA5-Land and ERA5 reanalysis datasets on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP), where condensation and desublimation occur frequently but lack quantitative evaluation. The results showed that: (1) Condensation showed a decreasing trend from southeast to northwest, with annual mean condensation ranging from 0 mm to 72.8 mm, while desublimation showed regional enrichment rather than zonal variation, with the annual mean desublimation ranging from 0 mm to 23.6 mm; (2) At 95% confidence level, condensation showed a significant increasing trend in the central and western QTP, while desublimation showed a significant decreasing trend in most regions of the QTP, and the decreasing trend of desublimation was more obvious than the increasing trend of condensation; (3) Both condensation and desublimation showed significant seasonal characteristics; the maximum monthly condensation was 2.37 mm and the monthly mean condensation was 0.70 mm, while the maximum monthly desublimation was 1.45 mm and the monthly mean desublimation was 0.95 mm; (4) The annual mean condensation was 8.45 mm, with an increasing trend of 0.24 mm/10a, the annual mean desublimation was 11.45 mm, with a decreasing trend of −0.26 mm/10a, and the total annual mean condensation and desublimation was 19.89 mm, with a weak decreasing trend on the QTP; (5) The increase in condensation is most associated with the increase in precipitation, while the decrease in desublimation is most associated with the increase in air temperature on the QTP. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land-Atmosphere Interactions and Effects on the Climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions II)
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11 pages, 2736 KiB  
Article
The Formation of Yardangs Surrounding the Suoyang City Ruins in the Hexi Corridor of Northwestern China and Its Climatic–Environmental Significance
by Qingbin Fan, Jie Liao, Yan Li, Wei Ye, Tao Wang, Lupeng Yu, Xiao Feng and Weixiao Han
Remote Sens. 2022, 14(21), 5628; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14215628 - 07 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1495
Abstract
The yardangs surrounding the Suoyang City ruins are proven to be wind-eroded landforms developed in an oasis which was used for agriculture in history. According to OSL and 14C dating, as well as historical records of local human activities, we suggest that [...] Read more.
The yardangs surrounding the Suoyang City ruins are proven to be wind-eroded landforms developed in an oasis which was used for agriculture in history. According to OSL and 14C dating, as well as historical records of local human activities, we suggest that the formation of yardangs in the Suoyang City oasis probably started in the mid-Yuan Dynasty of China (AD 1291). After being abandoned, the Suoyang City oasis quickly evolved into desert land with yardangs and nebkhas under the background of desertification enlargement in a cold, dry climate in the Hexi Corridor. Although human factors are considered to have played an important role in the process of desertification, the effect imposed by climatic changes should not be ignored. Desertification constitutes a serious threat to human survival and development, we should reasonably develop and utilize water and land resources, effectively prevent and control desertification, and promote the harmonious development between man and nature in arid areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land-Atmosphere Interactions and Effects on the Climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions II)
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14 pages, 3917 KiB  
Article
A Strict Validation of MODIS Lake Surface Water Temperature on the Tibetan Plateau
by Lazhu, Kun Yang, Jun Qin, Juzhi Hou, Yanbin Lei, Junbo Wang, Anning Huang, Yingying Chen, Baohong Ding and Xin Li
Remote Sens. 2022, 14(21), 5454; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14215454 - 30 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2024
Abstract
Lake surface water temperature (LSWT) is a key parameter in understanding the variability of lake thermal conditions and evaporation. The MODIS-derived LSWT is widely used as a reference for lake model validations and process studies in data-scarce regions. In this study, the accuracy [...] Read more.
Lake surface water temperature (LSWT) is a key parameter in understanding the variability of lake thermal conditions and evaporation. The MODIS-derived LSWT is widely used as a reference for lake model validations and process studies in data-scarce regions. In this study, the accuracy of the MODIS LSWT was examined on the Tibetan Plateau (TP). In-situ subsurface temperatures were collected at five large lakes. Although the observation period covers from summer to winter, only the observations during the lake turnover period (from October to freeze-up), when the lakes are well mixed, can be used as ground truth. The MODIS LSWT agrees well with the selected in-situ data for the five large lakes, with root mean square error (RMSE) < 1 °C at nighttime and <2 °C in the daytime, indicating a high accuracy of the MODIS LSWT data. Before the turnover period, the water is thermally stratified and the surface water is warmer than the subsurface water, and thus the in-situ subsurface water temperature data and the MODIS LSWT have different representativeness. In this case, if the observations are used as a validation basis, the MODIS errors could be much magnified. This in turn indicates the importance of period selection for the validation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land-Atmosphere Interactions and Effects on the Climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions II)
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15 pages, 5065 KiB  
Article
Applicability Assessment of Coherent Doppler Wind LiDAR for Monitoring during Dusty Weather at the Northern Edge of the Tibetan Plateau
by Meiqi Song, Yu Wang, Ali Mamtimin, Jiacheng Gao, Ailiyaer Aihaiti, Chenglong Zhou, Fan Yang, Wen Huo, Cong Wen and Bo Wang
Remote Sens. 2022, 14(20), 5264; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14205264 - 21 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1526
Abstract
Wind profile light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is an important tool for observing features within the atmospheric boundary layer. Observations of the wind field and boundary layer height from coherent Doppler wind LiDARs (CDWLs) under sandy and dusty weather conditions were evaluated using [...] Read more.
Wind profile light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is an important tool for observing features within the atmospheric boundary layer. Observations of the wind field and boundary layer height from coherent Doppler wind LiDARs (CDWLs) under sandy and dusty weather conditions were evaluated using observations from two CDWLs and one GTS radio sounding located at the northern edge of the Tibetan plateau from 1 May to 30 August 2021. The results showed that CDWL has good applicability in reproducing wind fields in dust, precipitation, and in clear-sky conditions, and that it is superior to the v wind field for real measurements of the u wind fields. In terms of the planetary boundary layer height (PBLH), the validity of the inversion of PBLH in dusty weather was higher than that under clear-sky conditions. It was found that the PBLH retrieved by the CDWL at 20:00 (BJT) was better than that at 08:00 (BJT). The diurnal variation amplitude of the PBLH before the occurrence of a sandstorm was larger than the diurnal variation amplitude of the PBLH occurring during a sandstorm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land-Atmosphere Interactions and Effects on the Climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions II)
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22 pages, 8249 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Drought Characteristics Projections for the Tibetan Plateau Based on the GFDL-ESM2M Climate Model
by Yu Liu, Zhifeng Jia, Xiaoyi Ma, Yongqiang Wang, Ronghao Guan, Zilong Guan, Yuhui Gu and Wei Zhao
Remote Sens. 2022, 14(20), 5084; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14205084 - 12 Oct 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1560
Abstract
Under conditions of continuous global warming, research into the future change trends of regional dry-wet climates is key for coping with and adapting to climate change, and is also an important topic in the field of climate change prediction. In this study, daily [...] Read more.
Under conditions of continuous global warming, research into the future change trends of regional dry-wet climates is key for coping with and adapting to climate change, and is also an important topic in the field of climate change prediction. In this study, daily precipitation and mean temperature datasets under four representative concentrative pathway (RCP) scenarios in the geophysical fluid dynamics laboratory Earth system model with modular ocean model (GFDL-ESM2M) version 4 were used to calculate the standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) at different time scales. Using a multi-analytical approach including the Mann–Kendall trend test and run theory, the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of drought in the TP from 2016 to 2099 were studied. The results show that the overall future climate of the TP will develop towards warm and humid, and that the monthly-scale wet–dry changes will develop non-uniformly. As the concentration of carbon dioxide emissions increases in the future, the proportion of extremely significant aridification and humidification areas in the TP will significantly increase, and the possibility of extreme disasters will also increase. Moreover, influenced by the increase of annual TP precipitation, the annual scale of future drought in the region will tend to decrease slightly, and the spatial distributions of the frequency and intensity of droughts at all levels will develop uniformly. Under all four RCP scenarios, the drought duration of the TP was mainly less than 3 months, and the drought cycle in the southern region was longer than that in the northern region. The results of this study provide a new basis for the development of adaptive measures for the TP to cope with climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land-Atmosphere Interactions and Effects on the Climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions II)
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22 pages, 9614 KiB  
Article
Interannual and Monthly Variability of Typical Inland Lakes on the Tibetan Plateau Located in Three Different Climatic Zones
by Weiyao Ma, Ling Bai, Weiqiang Ma, Wei Hu, Zhipeng Xie, Rongmingzhu Su, Binbin Wang and Yaoming Ma
Remote Sens. 2022, 14(19), 5015; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14195015 - 09 Oct 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1698
Abstract
Changes in lake water volume can reflect variations in regional hydrometeorology and are a sensitive indicator of regional environmental change. The Tibetan Plateau, referred to as the “Asian Water Tower”, has a large number of lakes. These lakes are in a natural state [...] Read more.
Changes in lake water volume can reflect variations in regional hydrometeorology and are a sensitive indicator of regional environmental change. The Tibetan Plateau, referred to as the “Asian Water Tower”, has a large number of lakes. These lakes are in a natural state and are relatively unaffected by human activities. Understanding the changes to lake water volume is a key issue for the study of lake-atmosphere interactions and the effects of lake expansion and contraction on regional climate. By using multisource remote sensing and water level observations, this study systematically analyzed inter-annual changes from 1970 to 2021 of three typical inland lakes basin (Bamu Co-Peng Co basin, Langa Co-Mapum Yumco basin andLongmu Co-Songmuxi Co basin), which are located in different climatic regions of the Tibetan Plateau and monthly changes from 2019 to 2021 of Bamu Co, Langa Co and Longmu Co in the lake area, water level, and water volume. In addition, the study analyzed the response of lakes in different climate regions to climate change from 1979 to 2018. The main conclusions are as follows. (1) From 1970 to 2021, there were similar trends in lake changes between the primary and twin lakes. (2) The changes to lakes in different climatic regions are different: lakes in the monsoon-dominated region showed a significant trend of expansion from 2000 to 2014, but the trend slowed down and stabilized after 2014; lakes in the westerlies-dominated region showed a small expansion trend; lakes in the region affected by both westerlies and the monsoon showed an overall shrinking trend. (3) The monthly variation of lake water volume showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing, with the largest relative change of lake water volume in August and September. (4) Precipitation is a dominant factor controlling lake variation during the year. (5) Temperature and precipitation are dominant meteorological elements affecting the decadal variation of the lake, and with the warming of the TP, temperature plays an increasingly important role. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land-Atmosphere Interactions and Effects on the Climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions II)
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20 pages, 3826 KiB  
Article
The Seasonal and Diurnal Variation Characteristics of Soil Moisture at Different Depths from Observational Sites over the Tibetan Plateau
by Hongyi Li, Ziniu Xiao, Junhong Wei and Ge Wang
Remote Sens. 2022, 14(19), 5010; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14195010 - 08 Oct 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1607
Abstract
Using observational data of soil moisture from the third Tibetan Plateau Experiment for atmospheric science (TIPEX III), the seasonal and diurnal variations characteristics of soil moisture at different depths of 5–160 cm from seven stations were analyzed, with emphasis on the comparative analysis [...] Read more.
Using observational data of soil moisture from the third Tibetan Plateau Experiment for atmospheric science (TIPEX III), the seasonal and diurnal variations characteristics of soil moisture at different depths of 5–160 cm from seven stations were analyzed, with emphasis on the comparative analysis of the differences of soil moisture between different sites and the differences of the synergistic relationship between soil moisture and temperature. The soil moisture was wet in the southeast and dry in the northwest. The studied sites were Lhari, Biru, Nyainrong, Amdo, Nagqu, Baingoin and Seng-ge Kambab in descending order, according to the soil moisture. The seasonal variation of soil moisture at the different sites showed a significant three-peak structure, which was more obvious in the shallow layer than in the deep layer. The first peak occurred from March to May, which was mainly due to the soil thawing in spring. The other two peaks corresponded to the two rainy seasons in the plateau. Soil moisture was the greatest during this rainy period. The diurnal variations of soil moisture and temperature in Amdo, Nagqu, Nyainrong and Baingoin showed a significant positive correlation in the four seasons. The soil moisture and temperature in Lhari and Biru were significantly positively correlated in winter and spring but negatively correlated in summer and autumn. The profiles of the soil moisture with depth varied greatly at different stations in different seasons. The distribution of soil water content at each observational site did not increase or decrease with depth but showed a certain high aquifer, which might be related to the types of the underlying surface and physical properties of soil. During the summer monsoon period, soil moisture in the shallow layer of 5–10 cm was higher at all observational sites. The spatial distribution of soil moisture in the plateau was more heterogeneous than that in the plain area, and only in the central part of the Tibetan Plateau, the soil moisture varied greatly from site to site. This also indicated that it was unreasonable to only use the soil moisture of several stations to represent the overall soil moisture of the region. The results provided a multi-angle observational basis for the validation of satellite data and parameterization of the numerical model of soil moisture over the Tibetan Plateau. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land-Atmosphere Interactions and Effects on the Climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions II)
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13 pages, 2992 KiB  
Technical Note
Glacier Mass Loss Simulation Based on Remote Sensing Data: A Case Study of the Yala Glacier and the Qiyi Glacier in the Third Pole
by Ruzhen Yao and Jiancheng Shi
Remote Sens. 2022, 14(20), 5190; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14205190 - 17 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1293
Abstract
The climate warming over the Third Pole is twice as large as that in other regions and glacier mass loss is considered to be more intensive in the region. However, due to the vast geographical differences, the characteristics of glacier mass loss might [...] Read more.
The climate warming over the Third Pole is twice as large as that in other regions and glacier mass loss is considered to be more intensive in the region. However, due to the vast geographical differences, the characteristics of glacier mass loss might be very different between different parts of the Third Pole, such as between the southern and northern Third Pole. It is, therefore, very important to clarify the characteristics of glacier mass loss between different parts of the Third Pole, particularly between the southern and northern Third Pole. We selected the Yala Glacier in the Central Himalayas and the Qiyi Glacier in the Qilian Mountains to study the different characteristics of glacier mass loss between the southern and northern Third Pole using remote sensing data and in situ data. Based on the results, we found that the Yala Glacier has not only been in a status of mass loss but also in a status of intensive and accelerating mass loss. Our analysis showed that the average multi-year mass loss of the Yala Glacier is −736 mm w.e.a−1, with a maximum of −1815 mm w.e.a−1. At the same time, the Qiyi Glacier has experienced a mild glacier mass loss process compared with the Yala Glacier. The Qiyi Glacier’s mass loss is −567 mm w.e.a−1 with a maximum of −1516 mm w.e.a−1. Our results indicate that the mass loss of the Yala Glacier is much stronger than that of the Qiyi Glacier. The major cause of the stronger mass loss of the Yala Glacier is from the decrease of glacier accumulation associated with precipitation decrease under the weakening Indian monsoon. Other factors have also contributed to the more intensive mass loss of the Yala Glacier. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land-Atmosphere Interactions and Effects on the Climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions II)
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