Investigation on spatiotemporal variations of maximum seasonal freeze depth(MSFD) over the Heihe River Basin is of great importance for systematic understanding of regional climate and environmental change, ecological-hydrological processes, water resources assessment, construction and resource development. Based on soil and air temperatures at the meteorological stations of the China Meteorological Administration(CMA) over the Heihe River Basin, MSFDs time series are structured into a composite time series over the 1960–2007 period. Evaluating the averaged MSFD time series for 1960–2007 reveals a statistically significant trend of-4.0 cm/decade or a net change of-19.2 cm for the 48-year period over the basin. The MSFD had significantly negative correlation with mean annual air temperature(MAAT), winter air temperature, mean annual ground surface temperature(MAGST), degree days of thawing for the air(DDTa) as well as for the surface(DDTs), and degree days of freezing for the surface(DDFs). While there was significantly positive correlation between DDFs and MSFD time series, MSFD was deeper and changed greatly in the Heihe River source area. It was shallower in the east-central basin and gradually deepened in other sections of the basin. The MSFD distribution pattern in 2003–2005 is consistent with that of averaged degree days of freezing for air(DDFa) in 1960–2007. However, the maximum of MSFD may not be accurate, because there is no long term observation data in the deep seasonally frozen ground regions near the lower boundary of permafrost. With increasing elevation, averaged DDFa increased at a rate of 51.6 °C-day/100m, therefore, the MSFG and the date reaching MSFG became deeper and later, respectively.
Climate change and engineering activities are the leading causes of permafrost temperature increase,active layer thickening,and ground-ice thaw,which trigger changes in the engineering stability of embankments.Based on the important research advances on permafrost changes and frozen soil engineering in Qinghai-Xizang Plateau,the changes in permafrost temperature and active layer thickness,their relationships with climate factors,the response process of engineering activities on permafrost,dynamic change of engineering stability of Qinghai-Xizang Railway,and the cooling mechanism and process of crushed-rock layers are discussed using the monitoring data of permafrost and embankment deformation.Finally,solutions to the key scientific problems of frozen soil engineering under climate change are proposed.
