Permafrost on the Qinghai-tibet Plateau under a Changing Climate

Permafrost on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) has experienced major shifts during theQuaternary. During the past 40 years, permafrost has been degrading extensively, due to climaticwarming. Simulations suggest significant degradation of permafrost both in extent and inthickness within the next 50-100 years. Freshwater wetlands on the QTP can contributesignificantly to the global budgets in the atmospheric greenhouse gases. Permafrost degradationon the QTP has caused destabilization of foundations of engineering structures, deterioration ofgrasslands and meadows, and weakening of permafrost control on water resources.