Abstract
To gain a better understanding of the regional hydrometeorology in relation to the unique climate and topography of the Tibetan Plateau, algorithms are developed to estimate the surface temperature, surface albedo, cloud properties, and surface radiative fluxes based on Indian Satellite infrared and visible measurements. The spatial distribution patterns of temperature and albedo are found to closely correspond to surface topographical and biophysical features. Temperatures are much lower over the elevated plateau than over the surrounding regions. The variations of temperature can exceed 10°C within a distance of 50 km in the central plateau region and 20°C across the boundary of the plateau during daytime. The surface albedo field also exhibits non-smooth features with the smallest values less than 16% over the eastern plateau and the largest values exceeding 28% over the northern plateau. The horizontal distributions of surface fluxes are largely influenced by both topography and distribution of cloudiness. Following the topographical feature, longwave upwelling fluxes generally decrease with increasing elevation; and the largest values of surface downwelling shortwave flux are found over the western plateau where the surface elevation is highest. Under the influence of the cloudiness patterns, the downwelling shortwave flux decreases toward the south as there are larger cloud amounts and greater moisture contents over the southern plateau and the region off the southern plateau. In these regions the frequent occurrences of deep-convective clouds sngwave upwelling fluxes generally decrease with increasing elevation; and the largest values of surface downwelling shortwave flux are found over the western plateau where the surface elevation is highest. Under the influence of the cloudiness patterns, the downwelling shortwave flux decreases toward the south as there are larger cloud amounts and greater moisture contents over the southern plateau and the region off the southern plateau. In these regions the frequent occurrences of deep-convective clouds significantly decreases the transparency of the atmosphere and thus reduces the solar radiation reaching the surface.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Allen, M. W., and Mosher, F. R. (1986) Operational demonstration of monitoring snowpack conditions utilizing digital geostationary satellite data on an interactive computer system, in D.L. Kane (ed.) Proceedings of the Symposium: Cold Regions Hydrology, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, 531–540.
Cogan, J. L., and Willand, J. H. (1976) Measurement of sea surface temperature by the NOAA 2 satellite, J. Applied Meteorology 31, 173–180.
Chen, M., and Yang, H. (1984) Radiation in Linzi (Xizang), Collected Works of QXPMEX (1), Science Press, Beijing, 95–103. (In Chinese.)
Engman, E. T., and Gurney, R. J. (1991) Remote Sensing in Hydrology, Chapman and Hall, London and New York, 225 pp.
Hall, D. K., Chang, A. T. C., and Foster, J. L. (1986) Seasonal and interannual observations and modeling of the snowpack on the Arctic coastal plain of Alaska using satellite data, in D.L. Kane (ed.) Proceedings of the Symposium: Cold Regions Hydrology, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, 521–530.
Ji, G., Yuan, F., Shui, D., Chen, Y., and Wang, W. (1984) Radiation in the western plateau. Collected Works of QXPMEX (1), Science Press, Beijing, 10–22. (In Chinese.)
Jiang, J., G. Ji, and Wang, J. (1985) A study of the radiation Properties at Lhasa. Plateau Meteorology 4, 67–79. (In Chinese.)
McClatchey, R. A., Fenn, R. W., Selby, J. E. A., Volz, F. E., and Garing, J. S. (1972) Optical properties of the atmosphere (Third Edition), Environmental Research Papers, No. 411, AFCRL, Bedford, MA, 108 pp.
Miller, W. (1986) Applying a snowmelt-runoff model which utilizes Landsat data in Utah’s Wasatch mountains, Proceedings of the Symposium: Cold Regions Hydrology. Edited by D. L. Kane, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, 541–546.
Oke, T. R. (1978) Boundary Layer Climates, Methuen, London, 372 pp.
Robinson, D. A., (1986) Initiation of spring snowmelt over Arctic lands, in D.L. Kane (ed.) Proceedings of the Symposium: Cold Regions Hydrology, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, 547–556.
Rossow, W. B. (1989) Measuring cloud properties from space: a review, J. Climate 2, 210–213.
Rossow, W. B., Mosher, F., Kinsella, E., Arking, A., Desbois, M., Harrison, E., Minnis, P., Ruprecht, E., Seze, G., Simmer, C., and Smith, E. A. (1985) ISCCP cloud algorithm intercomparison, J. Climatology and Applied Meteorology 24, 877–903.
Shi, L., (1994) Cloud radiative forcing on surface shortwave fluxes: a case study based on Cloud Lidar and Radar Exploratory Test, J. Geophysical Research 99, 25, 909–25, 919.
Smith, E. A., and Shi, L. (1992) Surface forcing of the infrared cooling profile over Tibetan Plateau. Part I: influence of relative longwave radiative heating at high altitude, J. Atmospheric Science 49, 805–822.
Tao, S., Luo, S., and Zhang, H. (1986) The Qinghai-Xizang Meteorological Experiment (QXPMEX) (May-August) 1979, Proceedings of International Symposium on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and Mountain Meteorology, Chinese Meteorological Society and American Meteorological Society, Science Press, Beijing, 3–13.
Weng, D., Chen, W., and. Chen, L (1984a) The study on solar radiation over Lhasa river valley (2), Proceedings of QXPMEX (1), Science Press, Beijing, 82–94. (In Chinese.)
Weng, D., Chen, W., Shui, G. Ji, and Shui, D. (1984b) Computation methods for 10 day and 30 day period effective radiation in Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, Collected Works of QXPMEX (2), Science Press, Beijing, 12–16. (In Chinese.)
Xie, X. (1984) The distributive character of the surface albedo over the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau in summer, Kexue Tongbao 29, 365–367.
Xie, X., Y. Zhou, Y. Xiang, Z. Xu and Y. Ma (1984) The radiation characteristics over Gulmu region during May-August, 1979. Proceedings of QXPMEX (1), Science Press, Beijing, 48–60. (In Chinese.)
Yang, H., and Shui, D. (1985) The characteristics of the radiation balance in Garze over the eastern part of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, Plateau Meteorology, 4, 80–93. (In Chinese.)
Yao, L., Jing, F., Chen, Y., and Wang, W. (1985) The characteristics of solar radiation in the three-river valley, the northern Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas mountain area over the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, Plateau Meteorology 4, 94–111. (In Chinese.)
Yuan, F. (1985) The characteristics of the radiation over the Gerze region in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, Plateau Meteorology 4, 36–49. (In Chinese.)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1996 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Shi, L. (1996). Derivation of Surface Temperature, Albedo, and Radiative Fluxes over the Tibetan Plateau Based on Satellite Measurement. In: Jones, J.A.A., Liu, C., Woo, MK., Kung, HT. (eds) Regional Hydrological Response to Climate Change. The GeoJournal Library, vol 38. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5676-9_21
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5676-9_21
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6394-4
Online ISBN: 978-94-011-5676-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive