Abstract Soil temperature changes over the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau (QTP) exert considerable influence on regional climate. Here, we identify a distinct reversal from cooling during 1950–1983 (−0.169°C decade−1) to significant warming during 1984–2014 (0.388°C decade−1), exceeding the global average by 29%–87%. The early cooling period was mainly driven by interactions between greenhouse gases (GHG) and aerosols (AER), with AER exerting a dominant cooling influence. After 1984, the GHG contribution increased from 11.2%–29% to 40%–47.9%, leading to accelerated warming. The influence of interactions was strongly modulated by the relative dominance of GHG and AER, acting as a critical factor in the reversal and amplification of shallow‐soil temperature trend across the QTP. These findings highlight the sensitivity of high‐altitude soil thermal regimes to shifts in anthropogenic forcing.
Observations from the Little Bunker
Last updated: December 22, 2025 12:22 PM
Atmospheric CO₂
427.2 ppm
+17.9
ppm/year
Atmospheric CH₄
1930.95 ppb
+-3.5
ppb/year
Global Temperature
+1.48 °C
Peak: +1.73°C
World Population
8.1 billion
+67
million/year