Abstract: To obtain the dynamic characteristics of soil in typical permafrost basins of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, we characterize the spatiotemporal distribution of surface soil temperature and soil moisture in the Tanggula permafrost region based on multi-source remote sensing (SMAP, ESA CCI) monitoring data. We also analyze the changes of soil temperature and soil moisture at different depths based on ground measurement data from Tanggula permafrost meteorological station and DFIR permafrost snow meteorological station. Our results show that soil temperature is higher at lower altitudes than at higher altitudes in the Tanggula permafrost region, and soil moisture is higher in the eastern part of the region than in the western part. Changes in soil temperature and soil moisture lag significantly behind as depth increases, and soil moisture during freezing periods shows a clear two-stage downward trend. SMAP soil temperature and moisture data are well correlated with ground station monitoring data, and SMAP data are more accurate than ESA CCI data.

Key words: permafrost basin, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, soil temperature and soil moisture, SMAP, ESA CCI