Impacts of changes in vegetation cover on soil water heat coupling in an alpine meadow, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China

Abstract. Alpine meadow is one of the most widespread grassland types in the permafrost regions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The transmission of coupled soil water heat is one of the most important processes influencing cyclic variations in the hydrology of frozen soil regions, especially under conditions of changing vegetation cover. The present study assesses the impact of changes in vegetation cover on the coupling of soil water and heat in a permafrost region. Soil moisture (θv), soil temperature (Ts), soil heat content, and differences in θv−Ts coupling were monitored on a seasonal and daily basis under three different densities of vegetation cover (30, 65, and 93%) upon both thawed and frozen soils. Regression analysis of θv vs. Ts plots under different levels of vegetation cover indicates that soil freeze-thaw processes were significantly affected by changes in vegetation cover. With decreasing vegetation cover upon an alpine meadow, the difference between air temperature and ground temperature (ΔTa−s) also decreased. A decrease in vegetation cover also resulted in a decrease in the Ts at which soil froze and an increase in the temperature at which it thawed; this was reflected in a greater response of soil temperature to changes in air temperature (Ta). For ΔTa−s outside the range of −0.1 to 1.0°C, root zone soil-water temperatures showed a significant increase with increasing ΔTa−s; however, the magnitude of this relationship was dampened with increasing vegetation cover. At the time of maximum water content in the thawing season, the soil temperature decreased with increasing vegetation. Changes in vegetation cover also led to variations in θv−Ts coupling. With increasing vegetation cover, the surface heat flux increased, along with the amplitude of its variations. Soil heat storage at 20 cm depth also increased with increasing vegetation cover, and the downward transmitted of heat flux decreased. In addition to providing insulation against soil warming, vegetation in alpine meadows within the permafrost region also slows down the response of permafrost to climatic warming via the greater water-holding capacity of its root zone. Such vegetation may therefore play an important role in conserving water in alpine meadows and maintaining the stability of engineering works constructed within frozen soil of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.