The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), often termed the "Third Pole," is experiencing unprecedented climatic shifts characterized by accelerated warming and humidification. These changes are profoundly altering cryospheric dynamics, hydrological cycles, and ecological systems, with cascading effects on regional engineering infrastructure and natural hazard regimes. This Research Topic seeks to advance interdisciplinary research on the mechanisms, quantitative assessments, and adaptive strategies that address climate-driven challenges in this fragile yet critical region.

Rising temperatures and increased precipitation are intensifying permafrost degradation, glacial retreat, and extreme weather events, directly threatening critical infrastructure such as the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, highways, and energy facilities. Concurrently, evolving hazard patterns—including glacial lake outburst floods, landslides, and thaw-induced ground instability—pose escalating risks to ecosystems and human settlements. However, systematic analyses of these interconnected processes, their feedback mechanisms, and scalable mitigation approaches remain limited. This collection invites contributions that employ cutting-edge observational, modeling, and geospatial techniques to:
• Decipher the hydro-thermal-mechanical coupling mechanisms driving permafrost and glacier changes;
• Quantify impacts on infrastructure resilience and hazard probabilities under climate scenarios;
• Develop nature-based or engineered solutions for risk reduction;
• Integrate Indigenous knowledge with modern technologies for adaptive planning.

We invite original studies investigating interactions among climatic warming, increased precipitation, permafrost degradation, glacial retreat, landslides, floods, and infrastructure stability. Contributions may address numerical modeling, remote sensing applications, field observations, or socio-economic impacts. Case studies elucidating regional vulnerabilities and adaptation practices—from transportation networks to water resource management—are particularly encouraged. Interdisciplinary perspectives that integrate climatology, geotechnical engineering, ecology, and policy analysis are essential to address the complexity of these challenges.

By synthesizing empirical and theoretical advances, this Research Topic aims to establish a knowledge base for sustainable development in the QTP and in other high-altitude regions facing urgent climate challenges.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Impacts of Climate Change on Natural Hazards and Infrastructure Resilience in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: Mechanisms, Assessments, and Mitigation Strategies