| Summary: | layer. Under 30% and 65% vegetation cover the amplitude of variation in θv during the freezing period was 20–26% greater than that under 93% cover, while during the thawing period, it was 1·5- to 40·5-fold greater. The freezing temperature of the surface soil layer, fTs, was 1·6 °C lower under 30% vegetation cover than under 93% vegetation cover. Changes in vegetation cover of the alpine frost meadow affected θv and its distribution, as well as the relationship between θv and soil temperature (Ts). As vegetation cover decreased, soil water circulation in the active layer increased, and the response to temperature of the water distribution across the soil profile was heightened. The quantity of transitional soil phase water at different depths significantly increased as vegetation cover decreased. The influence of vegetation cover and soil temperature distribution led to a relatively dry soil layer in the middle of the profile (0·70–0·80 m) under high vegetation cover. Alpine meadow θv and its pattern of distribution in the permafrost region were the result of the synergistic effect of air temperature and vegetation cover.
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