Articles | Volume 19, issue 10
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4211-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4211-2025
Research article
 | 
02 Oct 2025
Research article |  | 02 Oct 2025

The thermal state of permafrost under climate change on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (1980–2022): a case study of the West Kunlun

Jianting Zhao, Lin Zhao, Zhe Sun, Guojie Hu, Defu Zou, Minxuan Xiao, Guangyue Liu, Qiangqiang Pang, Erji Du, Zhibin Li, Xiaodong Wu, Yao Xiao, Lingxiao Wang, and Wenxin Zhang

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Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3956', Anonymous Referee #1, 22 Mar 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Lin Zhao, 02 May 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3956', Joel Fiddes, 08 Apr 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Lin Zhao, 02 May 2025

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (further review by editor and referees) (05 May 2025) by Christian Hauck
AR by Lin Zhao on behalf of the Authors (27 May 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (12 Jun 2025) by Christian Hauck
RR by Rui Chen (24 Jun 2025)
RR by Joel Fiddes (07 Jul 2025)
ED: Publish subject to technical corrections (11 Jul 2025) by Christian Hauck
AR by Lin Zhao on behalf of the Authors (14 Jul 2025)  Author's response   Manuscript 
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Short summary
We used the Moving-Grid Permafrost Model (MVPM) to simulate the permafrost thermal regime in West Kunlun (55,669 km², NW Qinghai–Tibet Plateau), driven by remote-sensing-based land surface temperature (LST; 1980–2022). The model showed high accuracy and stability. Despite ongoing warming (+0.40 °C per decade), permafrost extent remained stable, reflecting delayed deep responses. The permafrost thermal regime reveals altitude- and soil-dependent responses to climate change and offers valuable insights into thermal states in data-scarce regions.
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