Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have identified a decadal-scale thermal memory effect in the permafrost of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. This means subsurface ground temperatures continue to rise and degrade even if surface air temperatures stabilize, with a typical lag of 8 to 11 years. This delayed response increases the risk of mobilizing massive soil organic carbon reserves, creating a positive feedback loop that could accelerate global warming. The study highlights how regional factors like precipitation and topography influence the speed of this degradation across the plateau.
