Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions ›› 2018, Vol. 10 ›› Issue (4): 305-316.

### Analysis of water vapour flux between alpine wetlands underlying surface and atmosphere in the source region of the Yellow River

Yan Xie1,2,Jun Wen3,*(),Rong Liu1,Xin Wang1,DongYu Jia1

1. 1 Key Laboratory of Land Surface Process and Climate Change in Cold and Arid Regions, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
2 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
3 College of Atmospheric Sciences, Plateau Atmosphere and Environment Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan 610225, China
• Received:2017-10-18 Accepted:2018-04-17 Online:2018-08-01 Published:2018-11-22
• Contact: Jun Wen E-mail:jwen@lzb.ac.cn
• Supported by:
This study was supported by funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41530529 and 91737103). The authors are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments.

Abstract:

An underlying wetland surface comprises soil, water and vegetation and is sensitive to local climate change. Analysis of the degree of coupling between wetlands and the atmosphere and a quantitative assessment of how environmental factors influence latent heat flux have considerable scientific significance. Using data from observational tests of the Maduo Observatory of Climate and Environment of the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resource, CAS, from June 1 to August 31, 2014, this study analysed the time-varying characteristics and causes of the degree of coupling (Ω factor) between alpine wetlands underlying surface and the atmosphere and quantitatively calculated the influences of different environmental factors (solar radiation and vapour pressure deficit) on latent heat flux. The results were as follows: (1) Due to diurnal variations of solar radiation and wind speed, a trend developed where diurnal variations of the Ω factor were small in the morning and large in the evening. Due to the vegetation growing cycle, seasonal variations of the Ω factor present a reverse "U" trend. These trends are similar to the diurnal and seasonal variations of the absolute control exercised by solar radiation over latent heat flux. This conforms to the Omega Theory. (2) The values for average absolute atmospheric factor (surface factor or total) control exercised by solar radiation and water vapour pressure are 0.20 (0.02 or 0.22) and 0.005 (?0.07 or ?0.06) W/(m2·Pa), respectively. Generally speaking, solar radiation and water vapour pressure deficit exert opposite forces on latent heat flux. (3) At the underlying alpine wetland surface, solar radiation primarily influences latent heat flux through its direct effects (atmospheric factor controls). Water vapour pressure deficit primarily influences latent heat flux through its indirect effects (surface factor controls) on changing the surface resistance. (4) The average Ω factor in the underlying alpine wetland surface is high during the vegetation growing season, with a value of 0.38, and the degree of coupling between alpine wetland surface and atmosphere system is low. The actual measurements agree with the Omega Theory. The latent heat flux is mainly influenced by solar radiation.