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Title: Comparison of effects of cold‐region soil/snow processes and the uncertainties from model forcing data on permafrost physical characteristics

Journal Article · · Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2015MS000504· OSTI ID:1244565
 [1];  [1]
  1. Department of Atmospheric Sciences University of Illinois Urbana Illinois USA
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Abstract We used a land surface model to (1) evaluate the influence of recent improvements in modeling cold‐region soil/snow physics on near‐surface permafrost physical characteristics (within 0–3 m soil column) in the northern high latitudes (NHL) and (2) compare them with uncertainties from climate and land‐cover data sets. Specifically, four soil/snow processes are investigated: deep soil energetics, soil organic carbon (SOC) effects on soil properties, wind compaction of snow, and depth hoar formation. In the model, together they increased the contemporary NHL permafrost area by 9.2 × 10 6 km 2 (from 2.9 to 12.3—without and with these processes, respectively) and reduced historical degradation rates. In comparison, permafrost area using different climate data sets (with annual air temperature difference of ∼0.5°C) differed by up to 2.3 × 10 6 km 2 , with minimal contribution of up to 0.7 × 10 6 km 2 from substantial land‐cover differences. Individually, the strongest role in permafrost increase was from deep soil energetics, followed by contributions from SOC and wind compaction, while depth hoar decreased permafrost. The respective contribution on 0–3 m permafrost stability also followed a similar pattern. However, soil temperature and moisture within vegetation root zone (∼0–1 m), which strongly influence soil biogeochemistry, were only affected by the latter three processes. The ecosystem energy and water fluxes were impacted the least due to these soil/snow processes. While it is evident that simulated permafrost physical characteristics benefit from detailed treatment of cold‐region biogeophysical processes, we argue that these should also lead to integrated improvements in modeling of biogeochemistry.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
DOE‐DE‐SC0006706; SC0006706
OSTI ID:
1244565
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1244566; OSTI ID: 1258600
Journal Information:
Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, Journal Name: Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems Vol. 8 Journal Issue: 1; ISSN 1942-2466
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 8 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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