Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-3122
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-3122
29 Jan 2024
 | 29 Jan 2024

A numerical study of process complexity in permafrost-dominated regions

Radhakrishna Bangalore Lakshmiprasad, Fan Zhang, Ethan T. Coon, and Thomas Graf

Abstract. Numerical modeling of permafrost requires adequate representation of atmospheric and surface processes, a reasonable parameter estimation strategy, and site-specific model development. The three main research objectives of the study are: (i) to propose a methodology that determines the required level of surface process complexity of permafrost models, (ii) to design and compare different conceptual numerical models of increasing surface process complexity, and (iii) to calibrate and validate the numerical models setup at the Yakou catchment on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Three cases with varying top boundary conditions have been established: (i) Case 1: Dirichlet thermal boundary condition of measured surface temperature at 0.0 m. (ii) Case 2: Surface water and energy balance without snow. (iii) Case 3: Surface water and energy balance with snow. The calibration was carried out by coupling the Advanced Terrestrial Simulator (Numerical model) and PEST (Calibration tool). Simulation results showed that (i) Permeability and Van Genuchten alpha of peat and mineral were highly sensitive. (ii) The thawing of permafrost was not adequately represented by considering only subsurface processes. (iii) Liquid precipitation aided in increasing the rate of permafrost degradation. (iv) Deposition of snow insulated the subsurface during the thaw initiation period. We have successfully established a pseudo-1-D model at the Yakou catchment in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. A novel methodology is proposed to assess the surface process level complexity in permafrost-dominated regions. The numerical model can be used to determine the impacts of climate change on permafrost degradation.

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Radhakrishna Bangalore Lakshmiprasad, Fan Zhang, Ethan T. Coon, and Thomas Graf

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-3122', Anonymous Referee #1, 01 Mar 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-3122', Anonymous Referee #2, 15 Mar 2024
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-3122', Anonymous Referee #3, 24 Mar 2024

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-3122', Anonymous Referee #1, 01 Mar 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-3122', Anonymous Referee #2, 15 Mar 2024
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-3122', Anonymous Referee #3, 24 Mar 2024
Radhakrishna Bangalore Lakshmiprasad, Fan Zhang, Ethan T. Coon, and Thomas Graf

Model code and software

Datamshapratirupa Radhakrishna Bangalore Lakshmiprasad https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8273589

Radhakrishna Bangalore Lakshmiprasad, Fan Zhang, Ethan T. Coon, and Thomas Graf

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Short summary
An effective method of understanding permafrost dynamics due to climate change is numerical modeling. The research work established a novel numerical approach to assess the required level of surface process complexity and set up a numerical model at the Yakou catchment in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The main research findings were that permafrost thawing was not well represented by considering only subsurface processes, and liquid precipitation increased the rate of permafrost degradation.