Spatial Characteristics and Controlling Factors of Permafrost Deformation in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau Revealed Through InSAR Measurements

IF 5.3 2区地球科学 Q1 ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC

IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing Pub Date : 2026-02-26 DOI:10.1109/JSTARS.2026.3664223

Zhida Xu;Liming Jiang;Zhiping Jiao;Rui Guo;Zhiwei Zhou;Ronggang Huang

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Accelerated climate warming has intensified permafrost degradation across the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP), profoundly impacting regional hydrological cycles and carbon fluxes. Surface deformation observed in permafrost areas offers valuable insights into the extent of this degradation. However, the spatial patterns and controlling factors of permafrost deformation across the entire QTP remain poorly understood. This study reveals the long-term and seasonal deformation characteristics of permafrost regions across the entire QTP using Sentinel-1 SAR imagery (primarily from 2019 to 2021) through time-series InSAR combined with a permafrost deformation model. Notably, it provides the first plateau-wide characterization of the spatial distribution of seasonal deformation. In addition, the dominant factors controlling both long-term and seasonal deformation were identified with the geographic detector method. The results demonstrate that permafrost regions experience significantly higher surface subsidence rates (−2.46 mm/year) than seasonally frozen areas (−0.54 mm/year). Spatially, ice-rich permafrost regions with lower thermal stability exhibit higher subsidence rates. The average seasonal deformation amplitude in permafrost areas is 3.85 mm, with larger values concentrated in flat basins and areas surrounding lakes and rivers. Moreover, spatial variability of long-term deformation is mainly controlled by solar radiation and precipitation, and both are positively correlated with deformation rates. Slope is the primary driver of spatial variation in seasonal deformation amplitude. These findings highlight the critical role of surface energy, moisture, and terrain in permafrost dynamics. The study demonstrates the potential of integrating time-series InSAR with geospatial analysis to support large-scale permafrost monitoring and estimation of ground-ice meltwater across the QTP.

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基于InSAR观测的青藏高原冻土变形空间特征及其控制因素

气候变暖加速加剧了青藏高原多年冻土退化，深刻影响了区域水文循环和碳通量。在永久冻土区观测到的地表变形为这种退化的程度提供了有价值的见解。然而，整个青藏高原多年冻土变形的空间格局和控制因素尚不清楚。本研究利用Sentinel-1 SAR图像（主要是2019 - 2021年），通过时间序列InSAR结合多年冻土变形模型，揭示了整个青藏高原多年冻土区的长期和季节性变形特征。值得注意的是，它提供了第一个高原范围的季节变形空间分布特征。此外，利用地理探测器方法确定了控制长期和季节性变形的主导因素。结果表明，多年冻土区地表沉降率（- 2.46 mm/年）明显高于季节冻土区（- 0.54 mm/年）。从空间上看，热稳定性较低的富冰多年冻土区地表沉降率较高。多年冻土区的平均季节变形幅值为3.85 mm，较大的季节变形幅值集中在平坦盆地和湖泊、河流周边地区。长期形变的空间变异性主要受太阳辐射和降水控制，且两者与形变速率呈正相关。坡度是季节变形幅度空间变化的主要驱动因素。这些发现强调了地表能量、水分和地形在永久冻土动力学中的关键作用。该研究展示了将时间序列InSAR与地理空间分析相结合的潜力，以支持QTP地区大规模的永久冻土监测和估算地面冰融水。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing 地学-成像科学与照相技术

CiteScore

9.30

自引率

10.90%

发文量

563

审稿时长

4.7 months

期刊介绍： The IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing addresses the growing field of applications in Earth observations and remote sensing, and also provides a venue for the rapidly expanding special issues that are being sponsored by the IEEE Geosciences and Remote Sensing Society. The journal draws upon the experience of the highly successful “IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing” and provide a complementary medium for the wide range of topics in applied earth observations. The ‘Applications’ areas encompasses the societal benefit areas of the Global Earth Observations Systems of Systems (GEOSS) program. Through deliberations over two years, ministers from 50 countries agreed to identify nine areas where Earth observation could positively impact the quality of life and health of their respective countries. Some of these are areas not traditionally addressed in the IEEE context. These include biodiversity, health and climate. Yet it is the skill sets of IEEE members, in areas such as observations, communications, computers, signal processing, standards and ocean engineering, that form the technical underpinnings of GEOSS. Thus, the Journal attracts a broad range of interests that serves both present members in new ways and expands the IEEE visibility into new areas.