Analysis of snow-vegetation interactions in the low Arctic-Subarctic transition zone (northeastern Canada)

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that northern vegetation has been growing in relation to a warming climate over the last four decades, especially across the transition zone between tundra and taiga. Shrub growth affects snow properties and the surface energy budget, which must be better studied to quantify shrub-snow-climate feedbacks. The objective of this research is to improve the characterization of the impact of shrubs on snow evolution, from its accumulation to its melt, using in-situ and satellite measurements. The research is presented for the Umiujaq site, Nunavik, representative of the low Arctic–Subarctic transition zone. Snow depth, measured along numerous transects spanning different land cover types is found to increase by a factor 2.5–3 between tundra and forest, while snow density decreases. This illustrates the trapping effect of vegetation well. Complementary, continuous snow depth measurements using weather stations from two sites (tundra with low shrubs and a small clearing with shrubs within the forest) show different site-dependent behaviors. Spatial analysis from high-resolution Pleiades images combined with Landsat (Normalized Difference Snow Index) and MODIS (Fractional Snow Cover) images suggest a slight delay in melt over open and dense forest areas compared to tundra and dense high shrubs.     

Meltwater production in Antarctic blue-ice areas: sensitivity to changes in atmospheric forcing

In the near coastal regions of Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, below-surface ice-melt in blue-ice areas has been observed. The low scattering coefficients of the large-grained blue-ice allow penetration of solar radiation, thus providing an energy source below the ice surface. The sub-surface meltwater is significant enough to show up on remote-sensing imagery in the form of ice-covered lakes. Adjacent snow-accumulation areas have much higher scattering coefficients and consequently limit solar radiation penetration in these regions. These snow and ice surfaces are generally below freezing, and little surface melting occurs. To assess the response of these melt features to changes in atmospheric forcings such as cloudiness, air temperature, and snow accumulation, a physically-based model of the coupled atmosphere, radiation, snow, and blue-ice system has been developed. The model consists of a heat transfer equation with a spectrally-dependent solar-radiation source term. The penetration of radiation into the snow and blue-ice depends on the surface albedo, and the snow and blue-ice grain size and density. Model simulations show that ice melt occurring in this area is sensitive to potential variations in atmospheric forcing. Under certain conditions more traditional surface melting occurs and, under other conditions, the existing melt processes can be shut down completely. In light of the sensitivity of this system to variations in atmospheric forcing, and the ability to view melt-related features using remote sensing, a tool exists to efficiently monitor variations in Antarctic coastal climate.     

新疆天山及北疆地区积雪反照率差异

新疆天山和北疆地区是我国三大稳定积雪区之一，积雪反照率的变化显著地影响其地表吸收的太阳辐射能量。2018年1~3月，在新疆天山和北疆地区进行了积雪反照率观测，发现研究区的积雪反照率存在明显的时空差异。时间上，由于受到气温变化的影响，研究区的积雪反照率整体呈现下降的趋势，而且不同时期的下降幅度有差异，1月末~3月初反照率的降低相比1月初~1月末反照率降低更加明显。空间上，由于受到污化物的影响，各区域（阿勒泰地区、塔城地区、天山北坡和伊犁河谷）的积雪反照率之间存在差异，其中天山地区（天山北坡和伊犁河谷）的积雪反照率低于北疆地区（阿勒泰地区和塔城地区），天山北坡的反照率最低；在积雪稳定期及消融期，污化物对积雪反照率的影响最为明显。     

塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地冬季积雪下垫面地表反照率及土壤温湿度变化特征

利用塔克拉玛干沙漠大气环境观测试验站西站10 m梯度探测系统气象和辐射观测数据,分析了塔中积雪下垫面地表反照率、土壤温度、土壤湿度的变化特征及其相互关系。结果表明：塔中积雪覆盖期间地表反照率0.18~0.97,日均值为0.60;有积雪覆盖的地表反照率日变化更偏向反"J"型,呈现出上午大于傍晚的形态,平均早晚较差为0.13;积雪使0~40 cm深度土壤温度下降,积雪消融后土壤湿度增大使各层土壤温度趋于接近,并使0、10、20 cm深度的土壤温度日变幅呈减小趋势,减小幅度分别为41%、39%、39%;积雪地表反照率与地表温度表现出负相关关系,反照率越高地表温度越低,二者相关系数为-0.71;积雪地表反照率与5 cm深度土壤湿度负相关,高地表反照率对应低土壤湿度,低地表反照率对应高土壤湿度,二者相关系数为-0.74。     

上海城市热岛与热浪协同作用及其影响因子

在全球变暖的背景下,热浪变得更加频繁。城市地区由于城市热岛效应在热浪事件中承受更大的风险。然而城市热岛与热浪之间的相互作用还少有研究。利用2016-2017年两个夏季（6-8月）上海城、郊气象站逐时气温、风速、相对湿度资料、城区徐家汇和郊区奉贤涡动相关通量观测资料对比分析了热浪和非热浪期间城市热岛强度的差异,并利用一个平流扩散解析模型揭示了城市热岛与热浪相互作用的物理机制。结果表明,热浪期间的城市热岛强度相比非热浪期间明显增强,且白天增强大于夜间,显示出城市热岛与热浪之间的协同效应。热浪期间城、郊相对湿度比值相对非热浪期间明显减小,表明热浪期间城区地表相对郊区变得更干,从而抑制了蒸发作用,加剧了城市热岛强度;平均风速也明显减小,平流降温效应减弱,对城市热岛强度起正反馈效应。热浪期间城区净辐射通量的增加大于郊区,使城区获得更大地表辐射输入;由于城区更少的植被覆盖和更多的不透水下垫面,热浪期间城区潜热通量略有降低,而郊区明显增加;城区感热通量增幅则大于郊区,这种感热和潜热通量分配的改变也加剧了城市热岛强度。本研究对城市如何应对加剧的热风险具有重要的科学指示意义。     

城市不同下垫面的能量平衡及温度差异模拟

城市能量平衡是研究城市热岛效应的物理基础。利用北京市教学植物园2010年的实测数据,设置不同类型下垫面(植被覆盖类型:林地、草地和不透水层覆盖类型:道路、房屋),利用局地尺度城市气象参数化方案模拟并分析了相同气象条件和净辐射通量输入下,不同类型下垫面的显热、潜热通量及蒸散降温效应的差异。结果显示:(1)不同类型下垫面的各能量支出项有明显差异,植被覆盖区域和不透水层覆盖区域的波文比年均值分别为0.28和4.60,且在植被生长季差异较大;(2)城市扩展过程中道路、房屋替换林地、草地的过程,也是显热增加而潜热减少的过程。植被层向不透水层转换的过程中,显热通量年均增加32.74W/m²,潜热通量减少38.87W/m²,储热通量增加7.95W/m²;(3)理论上,植被蒸散的年降温效应使单位面积植被覆盖区域的气温比不透水层区域可低2.63℃。     

基于反射率和亮度温度的锡林郭勒积雪深度估算

积雪是我国西北干旱半干旱区重要的水资源，也是影响全球气候变化的重要因子之一。 目前光学影像反射率和雷达亮温数据是积雪遥感领域的主要数据，本文首次结合两类遥感数据估 算积雪深度，并比较偏最小二乘法和机器学习算法（人工神经网络、支持向量机和随机森林算法） 在积雪深度估算方面的表现。以锡林郭勒盟 2012—2015 年积雪深度数据为例，基于反射率和亮度 温度相结合的积雪深度估算精度优于单个数据源，且随机森林算法表现最好，均方根误差为 2.93 cm，满足实际应用的需求。研究结果对我国西北地区水资源分布、生态环境评估等研究具有重要 意义。     

The impact of tree cover loss on land surface temperature: A case study of central Massachusetts using Landsat Thematic Mapper thermal data

Land surface temperature (LST) variability results from diversity in urban surface materials over space and time such that locations with impervious urban cover experience higher temperature and larger temperature variation compared to non-impervious cover. There is growing awareness that warmer temperatures in urban locations negatively impact city residents by increasing heat related death and energy usage during heat waves. However, little previous work investigates the linkages between urban tree cover loss events related to invasive species eradication and urban heat trends. This paper examines the variation in LST using Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) thermal imagery in Worcester County, Massachusetts where over 30,000 trees were removed since 2008 to eradicate the invasive Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB), most of which existed in urban residential areas. Throughout the study area a 10% loss in tree canopy cover caused a 0.7 °C increase in LST whereas a 10% increase in sub-canopy impervious surface area exposed due to tree loss caused 1.66 °C increase in LST. The Burncoat and Greendale neighborhoods in northern Worcester experienced a combined 48% tree cover loss from 2008 to 2010 due to ALB eradication and an average relative LST increase of 2.4 °C (range 0.6–4.1 °C). Given that areas with an increase in exposed impervious surface produce greater temperature increases than areas of tree loss, future tree replanting efforts may focus on locations that reduce exposed impervious surfaces.     

中国天山西部山区森林积雪消融过程观测分析——以巩乃斯河谷为例

通过对2013年春季中国科学院天山积雪与雪崩研究站区内阳坡无林地和阴坡不同开阔度森林内积雪深度、融雪速率以及常规气象的观测,分析了融雪期不同开阔度森林积雪的消融过程以及积雪表面能量平衡特征。结果表明:不同开阔度林冠下积雪深度具有相同的变化趋势,森林的林冠开阔度越大,林下积雪深度越大,林下积雪开始消融和完全消融的时间越晚,消融期也越长。森林积雪融雪开始和结束时间比阳坡无林地区晚20~30 d左右。融雪前期林冠开阔度越大,其林下融雪速率越小。融雪后期则森林开阔度越大,森林积雪的融雪速率越大。不同时期由于不同开阔度林冠下雪面能量收支以及雪层深度等物理特性的差异,从而使不同开阔度林冠下森林积雪融雪速率的相对大小,融雪速率最大值出现时间和日变化特征均不相同。晴天森林积雪的消融速率和日变化特征取决于净短波辐射和长波辐射变化特征。降水期间,其融雪速率的变化则主要受降水形式、降水量以及积雪深度等雪层特性的影响。     

青藏高原沙区地温研究

青藏高原沙区测温结果表明:沙丘下和厚沙层覆盖地段下的地温较邻近天然无沙地表有所升高,而薄沙层覆盖地段下的地温反而比天然无沙地表有降低的趋势。     

Thermal Regime of Rock and its Relation to Snow Cover in Steep Alpine Rock Walls: Gemsstock,Central Swiss Alps

Snow cover influences the thermal regime and stability of frozen rock walls. In this study, we investigate and model the impact of the spatially variable snow cover on the thermal regime of steep permafrost rock walls. This is necessary for a more detailed understanding of the thermal and mechanical processes causing changes in rock temperature and in the ice and water contents of frozen rock, which possibly lead to rock wall instability. To assess the temporal and spatial evolution and influence of the snow, detailed measurements have been carried out at two selected points in steep north‐ and south‐facing rock walls since 2012. In parallel, the one‐dimensional energy balance model SNOWPACK is used to simulate the effects of snow cover on the thermal regime of the rock walls. For this, a multi‐method approach with high temporal resolution is applied, combining meteorological, borehole rock temperature and terrain parameter measurements. To validate the results obtained for the ground thermal regime and the seasonally varying snowpack, the model output is compared with near‐surface rock temperature measurements and remote snow cover observations. No decrease of snow depth at slope angles up to 70° was observed in rough terrain due to micro‐topographic structures. Strong contrasts in rock temperatures between north‐ and south‐facing slopes are due to differences in solar radiation, slope angle and the timing and depth of the snow cover. SNOWPACK proved to be useful for modelling snow cover–rock interactions in smooth, homogenous rock slopes.     

天山季节性积雪的能量平衡研究和融雪速率模拟

本文采用能量平衡法模拟计算中国西部天山山地季节性积雪的融雪速率。结果表明:在融雪期,净辐射和感热通量分别占融雪能量输入的75.3%和22.6%;用于融雪和雪面蒸发所消耗的能量分别占吸收能量的95.1%和4.9%。用能量平衡法所计算的融雪速率和实测的雪面数据吻合的较好,表明用能量平衡法估算天山山地季节性积雪的融雪速率是可行的。     

Surface Heat Balance and Spatially Distributed Ablation Modelling at Koryto Glacier, Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia

To investigate the characteristics of ablation at Koryto Glacier, a mountain glacier under maritime climate in Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, we made field observations from August to early September 2000. At a site near the equilibrium line, the 31‐day average net radiation, sensible heat flux, and latent heat flux were 43, 59 and 31 W^?2, respectively. We developed a new distributed ablation model, which only needs measurements of air temperature and global radiation at one site. Hourly ablation rates at this site obtained by the energy balance method are related to measured air temperature and global radiation by linear multiple regression. A different set of multiple regression coefficients is fitted for snow and ice surfaces. Better estimates of ablation rate can be obtained by this approach than by other temperature index models. These equations are then applied to each grid cell of a digital elevation model to estimate spatially distributed hourly melt. Air temperature is extrapolated using a constant temperature lapse rate and global radiation is distributed considering topographic effects. The model enables us to calculate the hourly spatial distribution of ablation rates within the glacier area and could well provide a realistic simulation of ablation over the whole glacier.     

厦门市热岛强度与相关地表因素的空间关系研究

以厦门市为例,基于遥感影像与建筑普查数据,分析了各局部气候区中相关地表因素与热岛强度之间的空间响应规律,以及厦门市各局部气候区中热岛强度与相关地表因素的空间关系。结果表明：研究区热岛强度有显著的空间自相关性,高值区集中于东南部的建设用地及耕地和裸地,低值区聚集于湖泊、河流等水体、湿地以及北部、西北部的林地;普通回归模型不能有效解释空间中相关地表因素与热岛强度之间的关系;空间误差模型的拟合效果优于空间滞后模型,可以更准确分析地表因素与热岛强度之间的空间关系;各局部气候区中可以作为回归模型自变量的地表因素有所不同。作为回归模型的自变量时,植被指数、水体指数、天空视域因子与热岛强度呈负相关关系,建筑密度、不透水面比例与热岛强度呈正相关关系,而建筑体积密度、建筑平均高度、建筑高度差与热岛强度的相关性在各气候区中并不一致。根据研究结论建议保护“补偿区”、分隔“作用区”,综合考虑规划实施策略的可行性,以有效缓解热岛效应。     

天山巩乃斯河谷融雪期积雪物质平衡初步研究

本文利用１９９４年３月中，下旬在中间科学院天山积雪雪崩研究站（以下简称积雪站）野外观测到的部分资料，对融雪期季节性积雪的物质平衡进行初步分析，同时利用物质平衡方程对积雪日融出量进行计算。     

Spatiotemporal index for analyzing controls on snow climatology: application in the Colorado Front Range

Mountain snowpacks are important water supplies that are susceptible to climate change, yet snow measurements are sparse relative to snowpack heterogeneity. We used remote sensing to derive a spatiotemporal index of snow climatology that reveals patterns in snow accumulation, persistence, and ablation. Then we examined how this index relates to climate, terrain, and vegetation. Analyses were based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer eight-day snow cover from 2000 to 2010 for a mountain watershed in the Colorado Front Range, USA. The Snow Cover Index (SCI) was calculated as the fraction of years that were snow covered for each pixel. The proportion of SCI variability explained by independent variables was evaluated using regression analysis. Independent variables included elevation, northing, easting, slope, aspect, northness, solar radiation, precipitation, temperature, and vegetation cover. Elevation was the dominant control on SCI patterns, due to its influence on both temperature and precipitation. Grouping SCI values by elevation, we identified three distinct snow zones in the basin: persistent, transitional, and intermittent. The transitional snow zone represents an area that is sensitive to losing winter snowpack. The SCI can be applied to other basins or regions to identify dominant controls on snow cover patterns and areas sensitive to snow loss.     

基于MODIS的新疆地表温度时空变化特征分析

地表温度（LST）作为陆地环境相互作用过程研究中的重要地学参量,其时空分异与下垫面属性、地形地貌格局等息息相关。本文基于2000—2020年MOD11C3数据,采用GIS空间分析、空间重心模型及改进的半径法等手段,对新疆地区月、季、年及昼夜等序列时空尺度LST的分布特征及变化趋势进行研究,并借助LUCC、DEM等多源遥感数据进一步探讨各类下垫面、不同地貌单元及部分典型区域的LST垂直递减率、增减温及热（冷）岛效应等地理特征。结果表明：① 研究期间新疆年均LST为9.45 ℃,呈减温和增温趋势的区域分别占研究区面积的13.3%和86.7%,增温区域占绝大部分,故近20年研究区整体呈升温趋势（0.024 ℃·a^-1）,较全国高出约0.01 ℃·a^-1,其中春季增幅最大,冬季次之;夜间LST变化明显强于白天,春、夏两季昼夜温差均大于23.7 ℃,而冬季最小（约15 ℃）;研究区年际高、低温重心迁移轨迹大多分布于LST变幅较大区域,各月LST空间分布及高低温重心转移轨迹均表现出以7月为中点的年内强对称性规律。② 不同下垫面地表冷热环境空间分布差异较显著。其中以荒漠和裸土为主的未利用地年均LST最高（13.42 ℃）且昼夜温差最大（23.6 ℃）,高寒区冰川年均LST最低（-7 ℃）且昼夜温差（14.3 ℃）最小,其他下垫面年均LST在2.6~11 ℃之间,昼夜温差较小且较一致（平均16.75 ℃）。③ 东西走向的“三山夹两盆”地貌结构,使新疆LST的纬度地带规律被大幅削弱。研究区各山区（群）LST垂直递减率不尽相同,地处较高纬的阿尔泰山递变（0.63 ℃/100 m）最明显,山体高大的帕喀昆阿山群递变（0.57 ℃/100 m）次之,天山山脉递变（0.54 ℃/100 m）最小。另外各山区（群）山麓处均出现了不同程度的逆温现象,而山腰处LST垂直递减率线性拟合效果最佳。④ 本研究所选取的部分典型城市大都表现出不同程度的热岛效应。其中乌鲁木齐市热岛效应最为强烈,伊宁市其次,哈密市最微弱,而阿克苏市则表现出绿洲城市冷岛效应,但各城市热（冷）岛效应均存在一定环数（8环）范围的冷、热岛足迹。     

粤港澳大湾区气溶胶对白天城市热岛强度的影响

以粤港澳大湾区为例,利用卫星遥感资料结合大气化学模式模拟,分析2003―2018年城市热岛强度、气溶胶光学厚度的变化规律,定性和定量研究气溶胶对白天城市热岛强度的影响。结果表明：2003―2018年粤港澳大湾区城市热岛强度呈波动上升趋势,夏季热岛强度最大,冬季热岛强度最小;气溶胶光学厚度呈波动下降趋势,春季气溶胶光学厚度最大,冬季气溶胶光学厚度最小。在年际和季节尺度,城市热岛强度与城区、郊区气溶胶光学厚度之差均呈弱的正相关。基于WRF-Chem的模拟实验表明,气溶胶的存在导致城区、郊区地表向下总辐射减少、地表温度降低,且城区地表向下总辐射减少多于郊区、降温幅度大于郊区,进而导致了热岛强度减弱。气溶胶对城市热岛强度的贡献率为?2.187%,冬季贡献率绝对值略高于夏季。     

CIRCULATION PATTERNS AND TEMPERATURE FIELDS ASSOCIATED WITH EXTENSIVE SNOW COVER ON THE NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT

Weekly snow cover areas, derived from the NOAA/NESS Northern Hemisphere Digitized Snow and Ice Cover Data Base, were correlated with weekly temperature anomalies across the United States and with weekly 700-mb geopotential heights over the North American sector. The correlations were computed for snow cover across the entire North American continent as well as the western and eastern United States for the winters 1966–67 through 1979–80. Extensive snow cover is associated with negative temperature anomalies across most of the continental United States. The strongest relationship occurs along the eastern flank of the Rocky Mountains from the Canadian border to the central Great Plains and reflects the southward movement of cold arctic air masses toward the Gulf of Mexico. An anomalous trough over the western part of North America is responsible for extensive snow cover in the winter. The surface storm track is displaced southward during winters with heavy snow cover, with cyclones occurring more frequently in the southern Plains and southeastern United States. Moist Gulf of Mexico air advected northward by the southerly flow aloft is an important prerequisite condition for the occurrence of extensive snow cover in the eastern United States during the first half of winter.     

中国西北地区季节性积雪的性质与结构

中国内陆地区积雪分布十分广泛。根据西北地区大陆性气候条件下形成的“干寒型”积雪的特征 ,对中国天山和阿尔泰山山区的季节性积雪进行了观测与分析。结果表明 ,该区最大积雪深度达 15 2cm(1997) ,积雪层一般由新雪 (或表层凝结霜 )、细粒雪、中粒雪、粗粒雪、松散深霜、聚合深霜层和薄融冻冰层组成。与“湿暖型”积雪相比 ,“干寒型”积雪的性质具有密度小 (新雪的最小密度为 0 .0 4 g/cm3 )、含水率少 (隆冬期 <1% )、温度梯度大(最大可达 - 0 .5 2℃ /cm)、深霜发育层厚等特点 ,并且变质作用以热量交换和雪层压力变质作用为主。据中国科学院天山积雪与雪崩研究站 (43°2 0N ,84°2 9E ,海拔 1776m)的观测资料 ,中国内陆干旱区冬季积雪期雪面太阳辐射通量以负平衡为主 ,新雪雪面反射率达 96 % ,短波辐射在干寒型积雪中的穿透厚度达 2 8cm。春季积雪消融期 ,深霜层厚度可占整个积雪层厚度的 80 %。随着气温的升高 ,雪粒间的键链首先融化 ,使积雪变得松散 ,内聚力、抗压、抗拉和抗剪强度降低 ,积雪含水率也随之增大 ,整个积雪层趋于接近 0℃的等温现象 ,因此 ,春季天山、阿尔泰山等山地全层性湿雪崩频繁发生