Review of Permafrost Degradation in the Mongolian Plateau

Fengjiao Li, Juanle Wang (), Pengfei Li and Avirmed Dashtseren
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Fengjiao Li: State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Juanle Wang: State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Pengfei Li: College of Geomatics, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China
Avirmed Dashtseren: Institute of Geography and Geoecology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Ulaanbaatar 15170, Mongolia

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-21

Abstract: Permafrost serves as a crucial indicator of global climate change. Its degradation significantly influences Earth’s surface systems, including hydrology, soil, climate, ecosystems, and even civil construction. The distribution of permafrost in the Mongolian Plateau (MP) has an important influence in North Asia and even the Euro-Asia continent. This study provides a comprehensive review of the current state of permafrost degradation and its influence on MP, including climate change and human activities. Remote sensing technologies for permafrost monitoring, including optical remote sensing data models and InSAR technology, are also reviewed. This paper outlines eight future research directions by exploring the latest advancements and technical challenges in permafrost monitoring in the region. These include fundamental investigations of the permafrost zone; evaluation of permafrost effects on ecosystems; hydrology and water resources research; assessment and engineering of freeze–thaw hazards; sustainable regional development in permafrost zones; remote sensing monitoring techniques for permafrost; inter-regional comparative and collaborative research; and data sharing and standardization for permafrost research. This study provides valuable insights into the progress of permafrost degradation not only in the MP but also as a reference for related permafrost studies in other mid-to-high latitudes regions.

Keywords: permafrost degradation; Mongolian Plateau; permafrost monitoring; remote sensing; ecological environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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