Widespread and Rapid Activities of Retrogressive Thaw Slumps on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau From 2016 to 2022

Abstract Retrogressive thaw slumps (RTSs), formed by abrupt degradation of ice‐rich permafrost, are widely distributed on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau, causing infrastructure damage and enhancing soil carbon emissions. We compiled annual RTS inventories across the plateau from 2016 to 2022 using a deep...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geophysical Research Letters
Main Authors: Zhuoxuan Xia, Lin Liu, Cuicui Mu, Xiaoqing Peng, Zhuoyi Zhao, Lingcao Huang, Jing Luo, Chengyan Fan
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024
Subjects:
Geophysics. Cosmic physics
QC801-809
Ice
permafrost
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL109616
https://doaj.org/article/8b145ca8ac014a30beee1124cb589269
Description
Summary:Abstract Retrogressive thaw slumps (RTSs), formed by abrupt degradation of ice‐rich permafrost, are widely distributed on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau, causing infrastructure damage and enhancing soil carbon emissions. We compiled annual RTS inventories across the plateau from 2016 to 2022 using a deep‐learning‐aided method to quantify the spatial‐temporal variations. We found that RTS‐affected locations increased from 1,592 to 3,805 in 2016–2022, which increased affected areas by 2.8 times from 1,714 to 6,507 ha. The most active initiation and expansion periods were in 2016–2017 and 2018–2019. RTSs tend to be clustered, showing local heterogeneity among clusters characterized by various responses toward high temperatures and precipitation and tendencies to be on different topography and vegetation types. This research reveals the rapid development, wide distribution and regional heterogeneity of RTS activities, serving as a crucial step toward understanding how RTSs respond to climate change and regional environmental varieties.

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