Changes in permafrost environments caused by construction and maintenance of Qinghai-Tibet Highway

Abstract

The sideward permafrost along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway (QTH) contains massive ground-ice and is at a relatively high temperature. Under the influence of the steady increase of human activities, the permafrost environment has been changed greatly for a long time. At present, the permafrost becomes warm and rapidly degenerates, including the decline of the permafrost table, rising of the ground temperature, shortening of the length of frozen section, and extension of range of melting region. Some thaw hazards (e. g. thaw slumping and thermokarst pond) have widely occurred along both sides of the roadbed. In addition, due to the incomplete construction management, the vegetation adjacent to the highway is seriously damaged or eradicated, resulting in the land desertification and ecosystem out of balance. The dust, waste and garbage brought by drivers, passengers, maintenance workers, and transportations may also pollute the permafrost environment.