Paper Info
Title
Spatial Analyses And Susceptibility Modeling Of Thermokarst Lakes In Permafrost Landscapes Along The Qinghai-Tibet Engineering Corridor
Abstract
Thermokarst lakes (TLs) caused by the thaw of massive ground ice in ice-rich permafrost landscapes are increasing and have strong impacts on the hydro-ecological environment and human infrastructure on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), however, its spatial distribution characteristics and environmental controls have not been underrepresented at the local scale. Here, we analyzed the spatial distribution of small TLs along the Qinghai-Tibet Engineering Corridor (QTEC) based on high-resolution (up to 2.0 m) satellite images. The TLs gathered in the plains and upland plateau and covered 8.3% of the QTEC land. We deployed a random-frost method to investigate the suitable environmental conditions for TLs. Climate including summer rainfall and the air temperature was the most important factor controlling the TL distribution, followed by topography and soil characteristics that affected the ground ice content. TL susceptibility was mapped based on the combinations of climate, soil, and topography grid data. On average, around 20% of the QTEC area was in a high to very-high-susceptibility zone that is likely to develop TLs in response to climate change. This study improved the understanding of controlling factors for TL development but also provided insights into the conditions of massive ground ice and was helpful to assess the impacts of climate change on ecosystem processes and engineering design.
Year
DOI
Venue
2021
10.3390/rs13101974
REMOTE SENSING
Keywords
DocType
Volume
geomorphology, environment, remote sensing, machine learning, susceptibility map
Journal
13
Issue
Citations 
PageRank 
10
0
0.34
References 
Authors
0
7
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Guoan Yin100.34
Jing Luo200.34
Fujun Niu301.01
Fujun Zhou400.68
Xianglian Meng500.68
Zhanju Lin600.34
Minghao Liu774.49