Analysis of Surface Energy Changes over Different Underlying Surfaces Based on MODIS Land-Use Data and Green Vegetation Fraction over the Tibetan Plateau

Abstract

To better predict and understand land–atmospheric interactions in the Tibetan Plateau (TP), we used Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)-based land-use data and the MODIS-derived green vegetation fraction (GVF) to analyze the variation trend over the TP. The in situ observations from six flux stations (“BJ” (the BJ site of Nagqu Station of Plateau Climate and Environment), “MAWORS” (the Muztagh Ata Westerly Observation and Research Station), “NADORS” (the Ngari Desert Observation and Research Station), “NAMORS” (the Nam Co Monitoring and Research Station for Multisphere Interactions), “QOMS” (the Qomolangma Atmospheric and Environmental Observation and Research Station), and “SETORS” (the Southeast Tibet Observation and Research Station for the Alpine Environment)) at the Chinese TP Scientific Data Center were used to study the surface energy variation characteristics and energy distribution over different underlying surfaces. Finally, we used observation data to verify the applicability of the ERA-5 land reanalysis data to the TP. The results showed that the annual GVF steadily declined from the southeast parts to the northwest parts of the TP, and the vegetation coverage rate was highest from June to September. The sensible heat flux (H), latent heat flux (LE), net surface radiation (Rn), and four-component radiation (solar downward shortwave radiation (Rsd), surface upward shortwave radiation (Rsu), atmospheric downward longwave radiation (Rld), and surface upward longwave radiation (Rlu)) reached their maxima in summer at each station. Rld did not change significantly with time; all other variables increased during the day and decreased at night. The interannual variation in H and LE shows that latent heat exchange was the dominant form of energy transfer in BJ, MAWORS, NAMORS, and SETORS. By contrast, sensible heat exchange was the main form of energy transfer in NADORS and QOMS. The Bowen ratio was generally low in summer, and some sites had a maximum in spring. The surface albedo exhibited a “U” shape, decreasing in spring and summer, and increasing in autumn and winter, and reaching the lowest value at noon. Except for SETORS, ERA-5 Land data and other flux stations had high simulation accuracy and correlation. Regional surface energy changes were mainly observed in the eastern and western parts of the TP, except for the maximum of H in spring; the maximum values of other heat fluxes were concentrated in summer.