Hydrological responses to permafrost degradation on Tibetan Plateau under changing climate

Abstract

The Tibetan Plateau (TP) has undergone significant warming and humidification in recent years, resulting in rapid permafrost degradation and spatiotemporal variations in hydrological processes, such as subsurface water transport, hydrothermal conversion, and runoff generation. Understanding the mechanisms of hydrological processes in permafrost areas under changing climate is crucial for accurately evaluating hydrological responses on the TP. This study comprehensively discusses the permafrost hydrological processes of the TP under changing climate. Topics include climate conditions and permafrost states, subsurface water transport under freeze–thaw conditions, development of thermokarst lakes and hydrothermal processes, and runoff response during permafrost degradation. This study offers a comprehensive understanding of permafrost changes and their hydrological responses, contributing significantly to water security and sustainable development on the TP.

Keywords

• Changing climate
• Permafrost degradation
• Subsurface water transport
• Thermokarst lake
• Hydrological response
• Tibetan Plateau