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A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Biosphere/Hydrosphere/Land–Atmosphere Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 20076

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Lin Chen

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Guest Editor

Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
Interests: permafrost; climate change; land–atmosphere interactions; hydrological modeling; infrastructure; heat transfer; solute transport
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Globally, permafrost is thawing due to the air temperature increase caused by climate change. As permafrost thaws, a positive feedback loop is created due to the increasing amount of carbon released into the atmosphere, which further warms the planet. Additionally, degrading permafrost affects the thermal, biogeochemical, ecological, and hydrological processes at both the land surface and the subsurface. Climate change also affects the performance of infrastructure and increases maintenance costs, particularly those built on warm ice-rich permafrost such as roads, oil pipelines, and building foundations.

This Special Issue aims to document and synthesize frontier research on climate change and its effects on permafrost, such as changes in precipitation patterns, land–atmosphere interactions, downscaling, etc. The topic is highly relevant to northern infrastructure built on permafrost and adaptation to climate change, such as structural integrity assessment, mitigation techniques, etc. This topic also encompasses advances in land–atmosphere interactions in permafrost regions, such as surface energy and mass balance, atmospheric boundary layer, atmosphere–snow–land coupling, permafrost carbon feedback, etc.

Topics of interest for the Special Issue include, but are not limited to:

Causes and effects of climate change;
Historical trends and projected changes in climate;
Response of permafrost to climate change;
Permafrost monitoring and modeling;
Land–atmosphere interactions;
Permafrost carbon feedback to climate change;
Surface energy, moisture, and carbon fluxes;
Vulnerability of northern infrastructure to permafrost thaw;
Sustainable energy technologies to alleviate climate change

Dr. Lin Chen
Guest Editor

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Keywords

climate change
permafrost thaw
extreme weather
land-atmosphere interactions
freezing and thawing cycles
infrastructure system
sustainable energy technologies
natural hazards
risk assessment

Published Papers (14 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1166 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Summary Study on Temperature Calculation Method for Water Accumulation in Permafrost Regions

by Xiaoying Hu, Erxing Peng, Yu Sheng, Ji Chen, Xiangbin Zhao and Qifan Yang

Atmosphere 2023, 14(6), 964; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14060964 - 31 May 2023

Viewed by 1041

Abstract

With permafrost degeneration caused by climate change, water accumulation has increased in permafrost regions during recent decades. Water accumulation will deteriorate the existing status of engineering in cold regions. Water accumulation can have a thermal effect on permafrost during its formation, even resulting in failure of the subgrade. Moreover, the thermal effect is related to water temperature. However, temperature variation of water accumulation is complex, and its influencing factors include air temperature, environment, scope of water accumulation and so on. In order to conduct analysis of the damage mechanism of water accumulation on permafrost, it is necessary to explore the internal temperature change of water accumulation. This paper proposes a review of temperature calculation method for water accumulation in cold environment. The thermal calculation method for the space between the air and the water boundary of water accumulation is summarized. Water temperature change of water accumulation of various types is analyzed. The thermal calculation considering phase transformation in water accumulation is discussed, and heat transfer from the bottom of the water accumulation to the underlying soil is further studied. Finally, the key factors that are advantageous for conducting research about the thermal effect of water accumulation in permafrost are proposed to optimize the calculation method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions of Atmosphere and Permafrost)

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15 pages, 2323 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermal Hazards Evaluation Based on Weight of Evidence Method in the Resource Area of Datong River in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

by Shengting Wang, Yu Sheng, Shuming Jia and Yongzhong Ren

Atmosphere 2023, 14(5), 885; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14050885 - 18 May 2023

Viewed by 814

Abstract

With global warming and increasingly frequent human activities in permafrost regions, it is of great significance to accurately and scientifically evaluate the probability and scope of thermal hazards in permafrost regions. Based on remote sensing image interpretation and field survey, the weight of evidence method (WoEM) was used to comprehensively evaluate the risk of thermal hazards in the source area of the Datong River. There were 10 factors, such as ground ice, mean annual ground temperature, mean annual air temperature, and ground soil type etc., selected in the WoEM. The results showed that the thermal hazard occurrences were closely influenced by ground ice, mean annual ground temperature, ground soil type, etc. The thermal hazards mainly occurred in the unstable permafrost with MAGT of –0.5 to –1.5 °C, accounting for 54.72% of the thermal hazards. The distribution area of thermal hazards in ground ice Level I and II accounts for 66.42%. Thermal hazards mainly occur in the soil types of bog soil and sapropel bog soil, accounting for 41.24% and 29.62% of the total thermal hazards area, respectively. Based on the influence factors and WoEM of thermal hazards occurrence, the probability map of thermal hazards occurrence in the source area was obtained. Additionally, the characteristics of the region with a high probability of thermal hazards occurrence and their causes were also comprehensively analyzed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions of Atmosphere and Permafrost)

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12 pages, 2195 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Strength Deterioration of Earthen Sites Loess Solidified by Calcined Ginger Nuts under Dry–Wet and Freeze–Thaw Cycles

by Qifeng Li, Bing Dang, Dandan Li and Xiaoying Hu

Atmosphere 2023, 14(5), 868; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14050868 - 14 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 861

Abstract

Earthen sites are a kind of constructure with significant historical and cultural value. However, the destruction of earthen sites caused by erosion occurs frequently. The solidification of calcined ginger nuts can improve the strength of the soil so that it can be used to protect the earthen sites. However, the strength degradation of solidified soil by calcined ginger nuts after dry–wet and freeze–thaw cycles is unclear. To reveal the deterioration pattern of solidified soil strength, the effects of its dosage and cycle number on the strength of solidified soil were analyzed through shear strength, dry–wet cycle, and freeze–thaw cycle tests. The results showed that the solidified soil strength decreased first and increased with dosage increase. With the number of dry–wet cycles increasing, the strength of the plain loess decreased rapidly and gradually turned flat. The strength loss of solidified soil was small in the dry–wet process. With freeze–thaw cycle numbers increasing, the strength of the plain loess decreased first and then tended to be flat, the strength of solidified soil decreased first and then increased slightly, and the change in the strength had a clear inflection point. With the increasing dosage, freeze–thaw cycle numbers corresponding to the inflection point were significantly reduced. These results indicate that calcined ginger nuts could enhance the resistance of earthen sites loess to dry–wet and freeze–thaw cycles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions of Atmosphere and Permafrost)

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13 pages, 4403 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanical Response of a Buried Pipeline to Permafrost Thawing Based on Sequential Coupling Method

by Fei Wang, Gang Wu, Dun Chen, Guoyu Li, Yulong Qian, Feilong Xi and Ling Wang

Atmosphere 2023, 14(4), 620; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14040620 - 24 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1286

Abstract

Thawing permafrost has affected the structural integrity of buried warm pipelines in cold regions and poses an ongoing threat in the context of climate change. Therefore, characterizing variation in the engineering properties of pipeline foundation permafrost and its effect on the mechanical behavior of pipeline is important. In this paper, the ground temperature distributions around a buried warm pipeline and mechanical response of the pipeline to differential thaw settlement of foundation permafrost are investigated using thermal–mechanical sequential coupling simulation, based on the observational data collected from a selected monitoring site along the China-Russia crude oil pipelines in northeastern China. The results indicate that the thaw-induced settlement of pipeline foundation permafrost develops quickly with the formation and expansion of the thaw bulb in the first 10 years, and then increases slowly when the thaw bulb extends to the weathered granite. Differential thaw settlement will cause a significant change in the deformation and stress of the pipeline near the interface of strong and weak thaw settlement zones. When the length ratio of strong and weak thaw settlement zones is 1, the maximum stress of the pipeline with a thickness of 16 mm is approximately 45% of the allowable stress of X65 steel, and the pipeline remains safe for 30 years. However, the potential failure of the pipeline should be considered due to the continued ground thawing and warming and pipe material aging. Forthcoming research on this topic is needed to evaluate more carefully the structural integrity of buried pipelines in cold regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions of Atmosphere and Permafrost)

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19 pages, 14009 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sensitivity Analysis of Pipe–Soil Interaction Influencing Factors under Frost Heaving

by Long Huang, Yu Sheng, Liping Chen, Erxing Peng, Xubin Huang and Xiyan Zhang

Atmosphere 2023, 14(3), 469; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14030469 - 27 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1070

Abstract

The mechanism of pipe–soil interaction under frost heaving is complicated due to many factors affecting the pipe–soil system. In order to analyze the sensitivity of various pipe–soil interaction influencing factors and highlight the relationship between the factors and the pipe’s mechanical characteristics during frost heaving, a pipe–soil interaction model based on a semi-infinite elastic frozen soil foundation is developed. Besides, the mechanical indices characterizing the influence factors and their change law are emphatically explored. The results show that the pipe stress changes most obviously at the transition region between the frost-heaving and non-frost-heaving regions. The equivalent stress increases nonlinearly with the increase of foundation coefficient, linearly with the increase of frost heave and elastic modulus of pipe, and decreases nonlinearly with the increase of transition length and pipe wall thickness. The peak stress of the pipe increases linearly with the increase of temperature difference. Moreover, the maximum allowable frost heave deformation decreases nonlinearly with the increase of oil pressure. This study helps provide theoretical reference for the adjustment, control, and prediction of stress and deformation in the design of buried pipelines under frost heaving. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions of Atmosphere and Permafrost)

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11 pages, 2764 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prediction of the Freezing Temperature of Saline Soil Using Neural Network Methods

by Jieyun Duan, Zean Xiao, Linze Zhu and Kangliang Li

Atmosphere 2023, 14(3), 422; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14030422 - 21 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1190

Abstract

Freezing temperature is an important physical index of saline soil in permafrost and seasonal frozen area, and it is difficult to be predicted with a formula when saline soil contains multiple salts. In this study, we used a backpropagation neural network (BPNN) and a radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) to predict the freezing temperature of saline soil from the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and Lanzhou. Several variables (ion content, soluble salt content, and water content) were adopted based on previous studies and experimental conditions. After the above two neural network models were established, the parameters were input into the two models to obtain the predicted values of the freezing temperature. Then, the measured and predicted values were compared to evaluate the accuracy of the two neural network models. Additionally, three statistical indicators were used to quantify the reliability of the two neural networks. Our results showed that BPNN had a stronger ability to predict freezing temperatures. Moreover, the established BPNN model was applied to analyze the sensitivity of the freezing temperature to the content of different ions under two different water content conditions. Finally, it was concluded that the influence of main ions on the freezing temperature in descending order was Cl⁻ > K⁺ ≈ Na⁺ > SO₄²⁻ > CO₃²⁻ > Ca²⁺ under the condition of 10% water content, and K⁺ >Cl⁻ > SO₄²⁻ > Na⁺ > CO₃²⁻ > Ca²⁺ when the water content was 30%. This study offers a new prediction method for the freezing temperature of multicomponent saline soil and can be used as a reference to investigate the factors affecting freezing temperatures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions of Atmosphere and Permafrost)

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20 pages, 5741 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Soil Salinization on Active Layer Thickness of Frozen Soil

by Ge Hao, Zhilong Zhang, Chencheng Guan, Guang Liu, Yufeng Hao and Ting Fu

Atmosphere 2023, 14(2), 296; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14020296 - 01 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1094

Abstract

The climate of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau is distinct. Given the large temperature difference between day and night, drought in perennial years, low rainfall and large evaporation volume, the frozen soil in some areas of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau will occur in soil salt. The presence of salt in frozen soil salt changes the water thermal characteristics of the frozen soil, which will affect the changes in its activity layer. In this paper, the Beiluhe area of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau was selected as the research object, and the numerical calculation model of water, heat and salt of salinised frozen soil was established. Considering the influence of salt crystallisation and salt on the freezing temperature of the active layer, the effects of different salt concentrations, water contents and salt type on the temperature of frozen soil and the thickness of the active layer were compared and analysed. Therefore, the salt of soil degenerates frozen soil under the action of sodium chloride and sodium sulphate, and the presence of sodium chloride and sodium sulphate is not conducive to the stability of frozen soil for many years. During soil salinisation, the content of sodium chloride in frozen soil increases; the temperature of permafrost initially decreases and then increases; the initial freezing time of the active layer is postponed in the freezing and cooling stages, the time when the water in the active layer with a salt concentration of 0.2–0.8% was delayed by 21, 32, 54 and 65 days; the temperature of the active layer decreases, which is the opposite in the thawing and heating stages, and the thickness of the active layer increases with the increase in salt concentration. During soil salinisation, the content of sodium sulphate in frozen soil increases; the freezing temperature of the active layer initially decreases and then increases and finally decreases, which is contrary to the temperature of the active layer in the warm season. The thickness of the active layer initially increases (with a maximum increase in 0.82 m) and then decreases and finally increases with the increase in salt concentration. The content of sodium sulphate in frozen soil has little effect on the initial freezing time of the active layer. High water content is conducive to the stability of permafrost. When the content of sodium chloride in frozen soil is constant, the water content increases; the temperature change of frozen soil is smaller; the temperature of the active layer in the warm season is lower; the thickness of the active layer is smaller, and the frozen soil tends to be more stable. When the content of sodium sulphate is constant, the increase in water content generally reduces the warm-season temperature of the active layer and the thickness of the active layer (−6 m the temperature of 30% and 40% water content in −6 m is 0.17 °C and 0.24 °C lower than that of 20% water content). However, analysis of the thickness of the active layer of the frozen soil containing sodium sulphate must combine the influence of water content and freezing temperature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions of Atmosphere and Permafrost)

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14 pages, 3759 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Study on the Characteristics of the Failure Strain Energy Density of Undisturbed Ice-Rich Frozen Clay

by Haimin Du, Shujuan Zhang, Wei Ma, Yanhu Mu, Tao Cheng and Yunzhi Zhang

Atmosphere 2023, 14(2), 203; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14020203 - 18 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1719

Abstract

Using the triaxial shear or compressive strength as a single index of the resistance of frozen soils to failure does not always meet frozen soil engineering requirements for the comprehensive evaluation of the resistance. In this study, triaxial compression experiments were carried out on undisturbed ice-rich frozen clay samples with various levels of water content under different confining pressures to study the characteristics of the failure strain energy density of the samples. The results indicate that as the confining pressure increased, the failure strain energy density first increased and then decreased. The failure strain energy density reached a maximum at a critical confining pressure of 2.00 MPa for 13.25–25.76% water content and 1.00 MPa for 26.02–45.82% water content. The failure strain energy density increased as the water content increased at low confining pressures (0.05–0.50 MPa) but then declined slightly at intermediate confining pressures (1.00–2.00 MPa). At a high confined pressure of 3.00 MPa, the failure strain energy density decreased overall as the water content increased. There were similarities and differences between the change characteristics of the compressive strength and the failure strain energy density. The failure strain energy density can be used as a supplementary reference index of the resistance of frozen soils to damage. The variation characteristics of the failure strain energy density of undisturbed frozen clay are essentially consistent with those of remolded frozen sandy soils. However, there are also clear differences between the characteristics of the failure strain energy density of these two types of frozen soil. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions of Atmosphere and Permafrost)

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13 pages, 4839 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of Wind Characteristics and Cooling Effects of Crushed-Rock Embankment with Different Pavement Widths in Permafrost Region

by Hongting Zhao, Xiaolin Li and Xiaopeng Wu

Atmosphere 2023, 14(1), 166; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14010166 - 12 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1112

Abstract

A crushed-rock embankment (CRE) with a high porous crushed-rock layer (CRL) can effectively cool the underlying permafrost through natural ventilation within the layer. However, in addition to the ambient conditions, the ventilation efficiency of the CRL and its cooling effect are significantly affected by the pavement width. In this study, the local wind flow around an embankment section was first analyzed based on field monitoring data. Then, considering climate warming, a 2-D coupled model of heat and mass transfer was established to investigate the wind characteristics and the cooling effects of the CRE with different pavement widths. The results showed that the pavement width exerted considerable impacts on the wind characteristics and cooling effects of the CRE. These impacts were evaluated via variations in the wind speed, the permafrost table, and the soil temperatures. An increase in pavement width can lower the wind speed within the CRL, which is adverse to the long-term thermal regimes of the embankment and the underlying permafrost. In addition, due to differential wind flows around the embankments, an asymmetric distribution of the soil temperatures beneath the windward and leeward sides of the embankments existed. Overall, it is hoped that the results of this study can provide informative references for the Qinghai–Tibet expressway that is constructed in permafrost regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions of Atmosphere and Permafrost)

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17 pages, 5741 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of Water and Soil Migration and Mud Pumping of Subgrades under Traffic Load

by Lin Wang, Lixin Zhang, Tianliang Wang and Shengjie Zhang

Atmosphere 2023, 14(1), 133; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14010133 - 07 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1507

Abstract

Atmospheric precipitation leads to the increase of moisture in the subgrade. The moisture and soil migration in subgrade is a key scientific problem in evaluating the service performance of the subgrade and resolving or preventing mud pumping. Using a self-developed testing system as well as a numerical simulation model, a detailed study of the dynamic hydraulic characteristics, water migration mechanism, fine soil migration mechanism, and mud pumping properties of the subgrade was conducted. The results showed that water migrated into the upper layer of the subgrade under traffic load. Meanwhile, a pressure gradient for the pore water was generated in the subgrade. This kind of pressure gradient is beneficial for the moisture and fine soil migration. With rising groundwater level and increasing traffic load, the porosity of the subgrade soil differs at different depths. The fine soil migration is caused by water migration, which causes new migration channel for water in the subgrade. Then, a circulating system of moisture and fine soil is formed in the subgrade under a traffic load. After that, the upper layer subgrade soil is nearly saturated under the action of traffic load. Then, the nearly saturated soil liquefies instantaneously, becoming mud, under the action of traffic load. However, as the loading time progresses, the moisture and fine soil in the subgrade continue to migrate upward, resulting in the mud being pumped into the ballast and the gradual disappearance of liquefied soils at different depths. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions of Atmosphere and Permafrost)

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12 pages, 3161 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of the FDEM Based on the CZM in Simulating Three-Point Bending Test of Frozen Soil

by Yongtao Wang, Baicong Ma, Weihang Hua, Wei Wang, Luxing Ma, Boyuan Wang and Zijian Mei

Atmosphere 2022, 13(12), 2083; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13122083 - 10 Dec 2022

Viewed by 1057

Abstract

The combined finite–discrete element method (FDEM) based on the cohesive zone model (the CZM) achieves cracking simulation by inserting cohesive elements between solid elements. In this study, three-point bending fracture tests of frozen soil were simulated by using the FDEM based on the CZM. Firstly, the sensitivity of the cohesive model parameters was analyzed. Secondly, through a series of simulations of the three-point bending test of frozen soil, it was found that the model with reasonable values of the CZM parameters had a good adaptability to the three-point bending cracking test of frozen soil, as the model not only reflects the load-displacement curve, but also has good correspondence with the fracture pattern compared with the test. Finally, the relationship between the CZM parameters and the specimens’ temperature under two loading rates of 1 mm/min and 0.1 mm/min was analyzed, and it was found that the CZM parameters had a good linear relationship with the specimens’ temperature. This paper is expected to provide a new possibility for the numerical simulation of frozen soil cracking. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions of Atmosphere and Permafrost)

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19 pages, 6275 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Investigation of Shear Strength of Carbonate Saline Soil under Freeze-Thaw Cycles

by Kaichi Qiu, Lin Ding, Wenbing Yu, Kezheng Chen, Shuai Huang and Kai Gao

Atmosphere 2022, 13(12), 2063; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13122063 - 08 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1313

Abstract

Climate change is accelerating its adverse impact on ecosystems and infrastructure systems in cold regions. For extensive carbonate saline soil areas, their response to the freeze-thaw cycle remains uncertain. By considering the continuous intensification of freeze-thaw cycle frequency, the mechanical characteristics of carbonate saline soils are analyzed for different salt content (0.6% to 2.1%) based on the mechanical test in this paper. The purpose is to reveal the change law of shear strength and its parameters of carbonate saline soils under the scenario of continuous freezing and thawing cycles. The micro-characteristics of the carbonate saline soil before and after freeze-thaw cycling were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, indicating changes in the structural soil properties caused by the combination of freeze-thawing and salinity. The scanning electron microscope images reveal the cumulative effect of frost heaving and salt expansion, i.e., increasing the number of pores between particles, reducing the effective contact between particles, and weakening the interaction force, resulting in cracks development. A series of mechanical tests demonstrate the stress-strain behavior of carbonate saline soils for different numbers of freeze-thaw cycles under different confining pressures. A transformation from strain-softening to strain-hardening is observed with an increase in the salt content from 0.6% to 2.1%. Furthermore, the shear strength of the carbonate saline soil decreases as the salt content and number of freeze-thaw cycles increase. The shear strength degradation mechanism is attributed to the cohesion and the internal friction angle. These shear strength parameters are critical in geotechnical analyses, such as evaluating of load capacity of foundations and slope stability in similar saline soils. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions of Atmosphere and Permafrost)

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10 pages, 1619 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Vegetation Coverage Evolution and Degradation under Coal Mine Construction in Permafrost Region

by Shengting Wang, Tianni Xu, Yu Sheng, Yiming Wang, Shuming Jia and Long Huang

Atmosphere 2022, 13(12), 2035; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13122035 - 04 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1140

Abstract

The ecological environment in permafrost regions is very sensitive to climate change and human activities. The effects of coal mining on the vegetation in permafrost regions have been poorly studied. Herein, on the basis of a field survey in the Juhugen mining area of Qilian Mountain, China, we investigated and quantified the influence of open-pit coal mining on vegetation coverage degradation in permafrost areas. According to the NDVI and field survey, the vegetation coverage was divided into five levels from low to high in the Arc GIS platform. Compared with the area not affected by coal mining, vegetation degradation was significant in the coal-mining-affected area, especially in the high-vegetation-coverage area. The vegetation coverage in Level 5 decreased from 51.99% to 21.35%. According to the conversion matrix, the transfer-out area in high coverage was larger, while the transfer-in area in low vegetation coverage was larger. The transfer-out area of five levels was significant in levels 2–5, accounting for 36.1% to 62.8% of the total area. The transfer-in area of five levels was significant in levels 1–4, accounting for 55.2% to 75.0% of the total area. Moreover, the ground surface temperature and water change were monitored in the vegetation degradation area. The results showed that the above degradation was related to an increase in the ground surface temperature and a decrease in the ground surface moisture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions of Atmosphere and Permafrost)

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Review

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21 pages, 3781 KiB

Open AccessReview

Frost Mitigation Techniques for Tunnels in Cold Regions: The State of the Art and Perspectives

by Yuanfu Zhou, Min Liu, Xuefu Zhang, Xiaoqing Suo and Mingyong Li

Atmosphere 2023, 14(2), 369; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14020369 - 13 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1555

Abstract

Tunnels located in cold regions are vulnerable to frost damage resulting from the special atmosphere, which directly threatens the safety of the tunnel structure and operation. Frost problems of tunnels in cold regions have not been fundamentally resolved. This paper reviews design theory and the frost mitigation techniques currently used in the design, construction and maintenance of cold region tunnels. The depths of freezing and thawing and frost heaving force are the key indexes of design theory. Insulation is the main design technology used to prevent frost heaving and thawing, and the active heating technology has also been applied in practice. In construction, reducing the heat of hydration and blasting by specific winter construction techniques can prevent tunnel freeze–thaw damages. In operation, the restoration of drainage systems, the reinforcement of structures and the reinstallation of freezing-prevention systems are effective measures to treat frost problems. Finally, some constructive suggestions and opinions are put forward to improve the service performance of tunnels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions of Atmosphere and Permafrost)

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