Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Wetting Reduces Permafrost Thaw from Global Warming

Earth and Planetary Science Letters, March 10

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the highest and most extensive permafrost region in the mid-latitudes, and is considered to be one of the most sensitive regions to global climate change. It has experienced elevated levels of both warming and rainfall since the mid-1990s. Increased levels of rainfall will continue to occur in the region in response to additional global warming, and the dampened ground will slow the temperature rise and degradation of permafrost. However, despite this offsetting effect of increased rainfall, this study found that increasing atmospheric temperatures still would continue to increase regional permafrost thaw rate and thaw depth.

Compiled by Amy Imdieke.