Li et al. (2025) Peat Hydraulic Structure Maintains the Stability of Permafrost Slope Peatlands in the Central Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau

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Identification

• Journal: Water Resources Research
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-12-01
• Authors: Yuefeng Li, Zhengyu Xia, Jingjing Sun, Tingwan Yang, Zicheng Yu
• DOI: 10.1029/2025wr041170

Research Groups

[Not specified in abstract]

Short Summary

This study investigates the water balance mechanisms enabling permafrost slope peatlands on the central Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to sustain waterlogging under low net precipitation. It finds that exceptionally low peat hydraulic conductivity is the primary control on hydrological stability, facilitating millennial-scale waterlogging and continued peat accumulation.

Objective

• To elucidate the water balance mechanisms enabling slope peatlands on the central Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to sustain waterlogging under low net precipitation.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Chadam peatland, a representative permafrost slope peatland on the central Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
• Temporal Scale: Millennial-scale waterlogging, peat initiation, and subsequent centuries (300–600 years).

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Modified DigiBog_Boreal model.
• Data sources: Field measurements (drone-based topography, peat cores, porewater δ¹⁸O), laboratory analyses (dry bulk density, horizontal hydraulic conductivity), stable isotope profiles (δ²H and δ¹⁸O).

Main Results

• Chadam peatland exhibits exceptionally high dry bulk density (480 ± 210 kg m⁻³) and low horizontal hydraulic conductivity (K_h).
• Model simulations, parameterized with local steep slopes (5°) and low net precipitation (mean 0.165 m yr⁻¹), demonstrate that only low K_h (initial 0.0001 m s⁻¹) can sustain millennial-scale waterlogging and peat accumulation.
• High K_h scenarios (initial 0.0015 m s⁻¹ and 0.03 m s⁻¹) fail to maintain elevated water tables during peat initiation and over subsequent centuries (300–600 years).
• Stable isotope profiles (δ²H and δ¹⁸O) corroborate strong evaporation and prolonged subsurface water residence times.
• Peatland hydrological stability depends on either low K_h, sufficient net precipitation, or gentle topography.

Contributions

• Identifies peat hydraulic conductivity as the primary control on hydrological stability in semi-arid, high-elevation permafrost peatlands.
• Provides new insights into the resilience of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau peatlands under warming conditions.

Funding

[Not specified in abstract]

Citation

@article{Li2025Peat,
  author = {Li, Yuefeng and Xia, Zhengyu and Sun, Jingjing and Yang, Tingwan and Yu, Zicheng},
  title = {Peat Hydraulic Structure Maintains the Stability of Permafrost Slope Peatlands in the Central Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau},
  journal = {Water Resources Research},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1029/2025wr041170},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1029/2025wr041170}
}