Science

Parts of Tibetan Plateau's frozen ground are gaining ice despite warming

Read full article at source ↗

Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 28/10/2026, 13:25:24 UTC.

Briefings

A new study indicates that over a third of the permafrost on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau has gained ice since 2000, contradicting earlier warming trends. This phenomenon occurs because stronger westerly winds transport more rain and snow into the ground, which freezes again during winter. The study was published in October 2026, noting that while the region warms twice as fast globally, local conditions create a net accumulation of ice in the central plateau.

Key points

• More than a third of the permafrost on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau has gained ice since 2000, primarily in the central plateau.
• Stronger westerly winds transport more rain and snow into the ground, which freezes again during winter, causing net ice accumulation.

Context

This finding challenges previous models predicting continued permafrost loss, highlighting complex local microclimates that override global warming trends in specific regions.

Limitations

The study covers only the central plateau of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and is based on observational data from 2000 to 2026, limiting long-term predictive accuracy.

Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 28/10/2026, 13:47:50 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.

View archived briefing on IPFS
bafybeic4yky7mgoxjkitmvwehkfh7y2uislh5bsq4sjgasf4ch7wx2pw44