Simulations of the Impact of Lakes on Local and Regional Climate Over the Tibetan Plateau |
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| Authors: | Lingjing Zhu Xin Liu Lei Tian Qunhui Zhang |
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| Institution: | 1. Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People’s Republic of China;2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People’s Republic of China;3. College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A&4. F University, Yangling 712100, People’s Republic of China;5. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&6. F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China;7. College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A& |
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| Abstract: | ABSTRACTBecause of the high elevation and complex topography of the Tibetan Plateau (TP), the role of lakes in the climate system over the Tibetan Plateau is not well understood. For this study, we investigated the impact of lake processes on local and regional climate using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, which includes a one-dimensional physically based lake model. The first simulation with the WRF model was performed for the TP over the 2000–2010 period, and the second was carried out during the same period but with the lakes filled with nearby land-use types. Results with the lake simulation show that the model captures the spatial and temporal patterns of annual mean precipitation and temperature well over the TP. Through comparison of the two simulations, we found that the TP lakes mainly cool the near-surface air, inducing a decreasing sensible heat flux for the entire year. Meanwhile, stronger evaporation produced by the lakes is found in the fall. During the summer, the cooling effect of the lakes decreases precipitation in the surrounding area and generates anomalous circulation patterns. In conclusion, the TP lakes cool the near-surface atmosphere most of the time, weaken the sensible heat flux, and strengthen the latent heat flux, resulting in changes in mesoscale precipitation and regional-scale circulation. |
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| Keywords: | Tibetan Plateau lakes Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) precipitation temperature |
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