Work

Assessment of freeze-thaw erosion by retrogressive thaw slump on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau combined with geophysical methods

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Retrogressive thaw slumps (RTSs) are significant thermokarst features in alpine permafrost environments of Arctic regions and the Tibetan Plateau (QTP), China. These formations contribute substantially to freeze-thaw erosion and organic carbon release, affecting regional ecological dynamics. Despite their importance, geophysical evidence of freeze-thaw erosion in RTS development areas remains limited due to challenging access and insufficient multi-methodological analyses. This study presents a high-resolution geophysical investigation of RTS development in the Beiluhe River Basin, QTP. Using a multi-methodological approach, we quantitatively assess freeze-thaw erosion processes by characterizing lithostratigraphy, ground ice distribution, hydrogeological properties, and deformation patterns across the RTS. Our findings reveal that freeze-thaw processes and lateral thermal erosion from the headwall create significant heterogeneity in soil hydraulic properties along the development direction, with an estimated total volume change of approximately 13,139 m³ in the studied area. These insights illuminate the complex freeze-thaw processes driving RTS development and their ecological implications across the QTP.

Source: npj natural hazards.

DOI: 10.1038/s44304-025-00085-4

Authors: Chenglong Jiao, Fujun Niu, Peifeng He, Jing Luo, Fan Yu

Institutions: Guangzhou Railway Polytechnic, Shanghai Normal University, South China University of Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources

Language: English

Topic: Climate change and permafrost

Subfield: Atmospheric Science

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,090