Advances in the Study on NRWIs in Alpine Mountains

Abstract

Through a comprehensive review of the No Rainfall Water Inputs （NRWIs） in alpine mountains in recent years and a summarization of technologies in monitoring NRWIs， this paper presents the ecological effect of NRWIs in alpine mountains and its potential correlation with the hydrological process of the cryosphere.In addition， the potential research trench is explored.The results show that NRWIs play a key role in the alpine mountain ecosystem， is significant to the sustainability of the ecosystem and also important to the ecological formation of the alpine mountain region.The NRWIs provides a buffering zone for the cryosphere eco-hydrological process， which can reasonably relieve the periodic physiological water shortage of vegetation resulting from low temperature （below freezing point）， rather than drought stress （no water）.The NRWIs affects the amount of available water in the soil through a periodical increase of moisture content， which in turn changes temperature sensitivity and further influence soil respiration.The enrichment and dissipation processes of NRWIs water offset part of the latent heat of evaporation， reduce the actual evapotranspiration， have a positive effect on lowering the evaporation deficit， and indirectly recharye the river runoff.In alpine mountains， the dependence of NRWIs on altitude indicates that it may be further enriched and frequently occurred.Thus， is is a potential exploration part for invisible water resources and has a significant effect on the local moisture recycling in the alpine mountains.In the transition process of the climate from warm-dry to warm-wet in Northwest China， the amount of NRWIs may rise with the increase of water vapor content in alpine mountains.

Keywords

• nrwis
• alpine mountains
• observation methods
• ecological effects
• cryosphere