Energy partitioning and controlling factors of evapotranspiration in an alpine meadow in the permafrost region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

• DOI: 10.1093/jpe/rtae002
• Publication Date: 2024-01-05T13:13:00Z
• Authors: Zhaoyong Hu; Genxu Wang; Xiangyang Sun; Kewei Huang; Chunlin Song; Yang Li; Shouqin Sun; Juying Sun; Shan Lin
• Keywords: 0207 environmental engineering; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

Abstract Energy partitioning and evapotranspiration (ET) of alpine meadows in permafrost areas are crucial for water cycle on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. However, seasonal (freeze–thaw cycle) variations energy ET their driving factors must be clarified. Therefore, 4-year fluxes [i.e. latent heat (LE) sensible (H)] were observed, bulk parameters surface conductance, decoupling coefficient (Ω), Priestley–Taylor (α)] estimated an meadow Mean daily LE (27.45 ± 23.89 W/m2) H (32.51 16.72 accounted 31.71% 50.14% available energy, respectively. More was allocated to during rainfall period, while 67.54 28.44% frozen period. half period seven times due low soil content vegetation coverage season. annual 347.34 8.39 mm/year, close mean precipitation. Low Ω (0.45 0.23) α (0.60 0.29) throughout year suggested that limited by availability. constrained because sufficient supply from precipitation In contrast, large differences between indicated supplied via lateral flow melting upstream glaciers snow transition The results suggest should considered when simulating regions.