Abstract: In this study, the spatiotemporal transformation method was used to investigate soil inorganic carbon (SIC) storage and content of alpine meadow at different degraded stages in Qinghai Province. We collected soil samples of alpine meadow degraded at four different stages, namely, grass-Kobresia humilis grassland, alpine normal meadow, eroded alpinetype black beach, and degraded grassland. Our results showed that in the 0-50 cm soil profile, the SIC values of the grass-K. humilis grassland, alpine normal meadow, eroded alpinetype black beach, and degraded grassland were 0.45, 0.10, 0.13 and 1.10 kg C·m^-2, respectively. A carbonates deposited layer was found below the 30 cm soil depth in the grass-K. humilis and degraded grasslands. No such obvious SIC concentration layer was observed in the alpine normal meadow and eroded alpinetype black beach. There was a coevolutionary relationship between the characteristics of mettic peipedon (thickness and fragmentation), bulk density, pH and the characteristics of SIC change. No obvious coupling relationship was found between the degeneration of the alpine meadow and the SIC storage. The storage of SIC would change when an extreme degradation of the meadow occurred.

Key words: Porites lutea, east sea area of Hainan Island, growth characteristics, sea surface temperature