Inventory and Frequency of Retrogressive Thaw Slumps in Permafrost Region of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

Due to the increasing air temperatures, retrogressive thaw slumps (RTSs) have become more common on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP), but their inventory, frequency, and initiation have not been fully investigated. In satellite imagery for the period 2018–2020, 2669 active RTSs were identified in permafrost regions of the QTP. Most of the RTSs occur in regions with elevations ranging from 4,600 to 5,100 m along north‐facing slopes varying from 3° to 8°. The number of RTSs and their affected areas increased by 4 and 6 times, respectively, in three densely distributed RTS regions from 2008/2013 to 2021. This increase in the RTS occurrence mainly occurred during the warm season in 2010 and 2016 and is likely due to high air temperatures during the thawing season, which induced the massive occurrence of active‐layer detachment slides. Another intensification of RTS occurrences may appear when higher anomaly air temperatures are observed. Plain Language Summary Climate warming has induced the thawing of permafrost (frozen ground), which increases the probability of retrogressive thaw slump (RTS) occurrence in permafrost regions of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP). A total of 2669 active RTSs were identified on the entire QTP based on satellite imagery interpretation. These RTSs are mainly distributed in areas with higher elevations and gentle and shady slopes. To determine how these RTSs change over time, we compared satellite imagery from 2008/2013 to 2021 in three densely distributed RTS regions. We observed that the number and areas of RTSs significantly increased during the last 12 years. We also determined that such increases mainly occurred in 2010 and 2016 when the air temperature was extremely high. Anomalously high air temperatures during the thawing season might be the main reason for the recent RTS acceleration on the QTP. Key Points Two thousand six hundred and sixty nine active retrogressive thaw slumps (RTSs) were identified in the permafrost regions of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau RTSs significantly increased in number and area, mainly in 2010 and 2016 when summer temperatures were extremely high Intensification of RTSs could occur in the future in association with higher air temperatures appear in thawing season