Monitoring Water and Energy Cycles at Climate Scale in the Third Pole Environment (CLIMATE-TPE)

Abstract

A better understanding of the water and energy cycles at climate scale in the Third Pole Environment is essential for assessing and understanding the causes of changes in the cryosphere and hydrosphere in relation to changes of plateau atmosphere in the Asian monsoon system and for predicting the possible changes in water resources in South and East Asia. This paper reports the following results: (1) A platform of in situ observation stations is briefly described for quantifying the interactions in hydrosphere-pedosphere-atmosphere-cryosphere-biosphere over the Tibetan Plateau. (2) A multiyear in situ L-Band microwave radiometry of land surface processes is used to develop a new microwave radiative transfer modeling system. This new system improves the modeling of brightness temperature in both horizontal and vertical polarization. (3) A multiyear (2001–2018) monthly terrestrial actual evapotranspiration and its spatial distribution on the Tibetan Plateau is generated using the surface energy balance system (SEBS) forced by a combination of meteorological and satellite data. (4) A comparison of four large scale soil moisture products to in situ measurements is presented. (5) The trajectory of water vapor transport in the canyon area of Southeast Tibet in different seasons is analyzed, and (6) the vertical water vapor exchange between the upper troposphere and the lower stratosphere in different seasons is presented.

Land-Atmosphere Interactions and Effects on the Climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions

“…Often referred to as 'the Third Pole' and 'the Roof of the World', the Tibetan Plateau (TP) conserves vast areas of mountain glaciers, permafrost, and seasonally frozen soil and is the largest high-elevation portion of the cryosphere sensitive to global climate change [2]. In this context, quantitative assessment of the land-atmosphere interaction processes, as well as their effects on the TP and its surrounding regions, is not only essential for understanding the energy and water cycles in the cryosphere and hydrosphere but also crucial for understanding the Asian monsoon system and predicting the climate of Asia and the Northern Hemisphere [3].…”

Land–Atmosphere Interactions and Effects on the Climate of the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Regions II

“…As the world's highest and largest plateau, the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is referred to as 'the Asian Water Tower' and 'the Third Pole of the World' [1]. A better understanding of the water and energy cycles in the TP is not only critical for revealing the mechanisms of regional land-atmosphere interactions, but also essential for assessing the causes of changes in the cryosphere and hydrosphere in relation to changes in the plateau atmosphere in the Asian monsoon system [2]. Since the TP is an ecologically fragile region that is sensitive to climate change [3], the systematic evaluation of land-atmosphere interactions in this region also contributes to the quantitative understanding of climate change.…”

Energy and Water Cycles in the Third Pole

“…The energy and water cycles in the Third Pole have great impacts on the atmospheric circulation, Asian monsoon system and global climate change. On the other hand, as the largest high-elevation part of the cryosphere outside the polar regions, with vast areas of mountain glaciers, permafrost and seasonally frozen ground, the Third Pole is characterized as an area sensitive to global climate change [1][2][3]. The Tibetan Plateau (TP) and the surrounding higher elevation area are experiencing evident and rapid environmental changes, such as glacial retreat, snow melting, lake expanding and permafrost degradation.…”

“…All these changes pose potential long-term impacts to water resources of local and surrounding regions. A better understanding of the water and energy cycles is essential for assessing and understanding the causes of changes in the cryosphere and hydrosphere in relation to changes of plateau atmosphere in the Asian monsoon system and for predicting the possible changes in water resources in South and East Asia [3].…”