Permafrost Degradation and Ecological Restoration Technologies in the Northeastern Margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: A Case Study of Xining and Surrounding Areas

维 赵

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau represents the highest-altitude and largest-area permafrost distribution zone in global mid-to-low latitude regions. Its northeastern margin, encompassing Xining City and surrounding areas, constitutes a critical transitional zone where seasonal permafrost and perennial permafrost interweave. Driven by the dual forces of global climate warming and anthropogenic engineering activities, permafrost degradation in this region has become increasingly severe, triggering a cascade of ecological consequences including thermal thaw slumping, retrogressive vegetation succession, and attenuation of water conservation functions. This paper systematically reviews the distribution patterns, thermodynamic characteristics, and degradation status of permafrost in the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and provides an in-depth analysis of the cascading impact mechanisms of permafrost degradation on alpine ecosystems. Based on typical ecological restoration practices such as the Muli Mining Area in Qinghai Province, this study summarizes key technologies including artificial permafrost layer construction, landform reshaping, and vegetation reconstruction. Furthermore, drawing upon cutting-edge methodologies such as physics-informed digital twin technology, this paper explores technical pathways for intelligent prediction of permafrost thermodynamic processes and dynamic assessment of ecological restoration effectiveness. Research findings indicate that the systematic restoration workflow of "permafrost survey — profile model construction — overlapping integration — surface water retention — vegetation recovery" can effectively promote ecological functional reconstruction in degraded permafrost regions. The digital twin framework integrating physical mechanisms with data-driven approaches provides scientific support for precise decision-making in permafrost ecological restoration. This study offers theoretical foundations and technical references for permafrost protection and ecological restoration in the marginal zones of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.