Evaluation of the Performance of CLM5.0 in Soil Hydrothermal Dynamics in Permafrost Regions on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

Abstract

Soil hydrothermal dynamics are crucial processes for understanding the internal physical conditions of the active layer in permafrost regions. It is very difficult to obtain data in permafrost regions, especially on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP). Land surface modes (LSMs) provide an effective tool for soil hydrothermal dynamics. However, it is necessary to evaluate the simulation performance before using them. Here, we used two in situ sites along with the latest version of the Community Land Model (CLM5.0) to evaluate the simulated performance in the soil hydrothermal parameters of the model in permafrost regions on the QTP. Meanwhile, the effects of soil properties, thermal roughness length, and the freeze–thaw process on the simulation results were investigated. The results showed that CLM5.0 can capture the dynamic changes in soil hydrothermal changes well in permafrost regions on the QTP. Soil moisture and thermal conductivity were more sensitive to soil properties and the freeze–thaw process, while the thermal roughness length had a greater effect on soil temperature. Notably, although we improved the soil properties and thermal roughness length, there were still some errors, especially in the soil moisture and soil thermal conductivity. It may be caused by inappropriate hydrothermal parameterizations of the model, especially the soil thermal conductivity, hydraulic conductivity, unfrozen water scheme, and snow schemes. There is an urgent need for collaboration between experts in permafrost science, hydrological science, and modelers to develop the appropriate schemes for permafrost regions and enhance the LSMs.