According to Xinhua news agency, Chinese scientists recently found that, as a sensitive region to Chinese and even the global warming, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau witnessed nearly 42 years’ warming in general, resulting in the sustained degradation of plateau permafrost, as has been shown in such phenomenon as shortening of frozen days and lessening of the maximum permafrost depth.  

Research staff in the open laboratory for climate research in State Meteorological Administration came to this conclusion after integrated study of field distribution of permafrost in Mt. Qilian, Mt Kunlun and regions along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway, as well as study of comparatively longer sequence of permafrost data from Xining, Gangcha, Golmu and Qumalai out of the meteorological record from 50 plus meteorological stations on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Scientists went on to say that, the permafrost on the Plateau has special function in reservation of ecological environment by controlling and adjusting plantation and water resources. The degradation of permafrost means weakening of its function in ecological environment, which would lead to degradation of alpine grassland, deduction of surface water resources, and many geological problems in permafrost regions thereupon.