Spatial Distribution and Variation Characteristics of Permafrost Temperature in Northeast China

Wei Shan, Chengcheng Zhang, Ying Guo, Lisha Qiu, Zhichao Xu and Yan Wang
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Wei Shan: Institute of Cold Regions Science and Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Chengcheng Zhang: Institute of Cold Regions Science and Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Ying Guo: Institute of Cold Regions Science and Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Lisha Qiu: Institute of Cold Regions Science and Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Zhichao Xu: Institute of Cold Regions Science and Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Yan Wang: Institute of Cold Regions Science and Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 13, 1-16

Abstract: Frozen soil is an important environmental factor in cold regions. Warming climate will increase the risk of permafrost thawing, i.e., accelerated carbon release, reduced super-frozen soil water, intensified desertification and destruction of infrastructure. Based on MOD11A2 and MYD11A2 products of MODIS Terra/Aqua, the distribution and change of surface frost number under the influence of normalized difference vegetation index and forest canopy closure in Northeast China from 2003 to 2019 were produced. From 2012 to 2015, the area of the regions where the surface frost number was higher than 0.5 continued to decrease in Northeast China. Taking 2013 as the time turning point, two periods of changes in the distribution of surface frost number in Northeast China were divided, namely, into 2003–2013 and 2014–2014. The spatial distribution of permafrost temperature is simulated by establishing the numerical relationship between the surface frost number and the annual average ground temperature of permafrost. From 2003 to 2019, the area of permafrost changed from 32.77 × 10 4 to 27.10 × 10 4 km 2 . The distribution characteristics show that the area with permafrost temperature below −4 °C accounts for 0.1%, and below −3.0 °C accounts for 3.45%. The permafrost with lower temperature is mainly distributed in the Greater Khingan Mountains, from the northernmost Mohe to the Aershan in the middle of the ridge. The area where the permafrost temperature ranges from −2 to 0 °C is the largest, accounting for 73.81% of the total area. The distribution of permafrost temperatures in the Greater Khingan Mountains is mainly between −1.5 and −3 °C, while that in the Lesser Khingan Mountains is mainly between −2.0 and 0 °C. The altitude is the main factor controlling the permafrost temperature distributed at high latitudes in Northeast China. This work will provide more detailed basic data for regional research on frozen soil and the environment in Northeast China.

Keywords: Northeast China; permafrost temperature; surface frost number; normalized difference vegetation index (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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