Spatial Distribution and Multi‐Factor Controls of Aufeis in the Northern Da Xing'anling Mountains, Northeast China

ABSTRACT Aufeis is a sheetlike or layered accumulation of ice that forms on the ground surface or on top of river and lake ice when groundwater or surface water repeatedly discharges and freezes during the cold season. In the northern Da Xing'anling Mountains of Northeast China, the occurrence and distribution of aufeis are regulated by the coupled influences of hydroclimate, ground thermal conditions, topography, geomorphology, and hydrology. However, the interactions among these factors are highly complex, making it difficult to clearly resolve the spatial patterns and driving mechanisms of aufeis development. Focusing on the G111 National Highway corridor between Jagdaqi and Mo′he, this study integrates spatial autocorrelation analysis with the Geodetector model to identify clustering characteristics, quantify dominant controls, and evaluate the synergistic effects of multiple environmental factors on aufeis formation and distribution. Field investigations identified 61 individual aufeis features, which exhibit significant spatial clustering. Geodetector analyses of 15 factors show that precipitation (mean q = 0.216), snow depth ( q = 0.205), soil moisture ( q = 0.183), and air temperature ( q = 0.144) are the dominant controls at the regional scale. Among factor interactions, precipitation and slope aspect jointly provide the strongest explanatory power ( q = 0.650). At the local scale, snow depth ( q = 0.482), slope angle (0.438), and proximity to rivers (0.405) exert the strongest influences. Additional variables, including distance to faults, slope aspect, and slope angle, act as important modulators that selectively enhance spatial differentiation. Moreover, nonlinear interactions among factors substantially strengthen their explanatory power for aufeis distribution. Two years of field observations further indicate that aufeis exhibits marked spatial mobility and temporal periodicity. These findings highlight the coupled roles of climate, topography, hydrology, and permafrost‐related environmental conditions in shaping aufeis formation and distribution and provide a scientific basis for infrastructure planning, ecological conservation, and water resource management in cold‐region environments.