Suprapermafrost groundwater flow and exchange around a thermokarst lake on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China

Abstract The dynamics of suprapermafrost groundwater regulate hydrological processes, including the fate and transport of carbon and nutrients, suitability of aquatic habitats, and evolution of permafrost in Arctic, boreal, and high-altitude regions. Nevertheless, relatively few studies have focused on these dynamics on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP). In this study, soil hydraulic conductivities, saturated thicknesses, and related hydrological processes were observed in situ around a typical thermokarst lake during the warm season. The results showed that the water table in the active layer fluctuated markedly from June to October and at depths of up to 1.0 m. The discharge of suprapermafrost groundwater was often