Remote sensing observation, retrieval, and analysis of temperature in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau cryosphere

The cryosphere serves as a sensitive indicator of climate change» while land surface temperature and near-surface air temperature are signals directly sensed by the indicator. They are key parameters for tracing the evolution history of the cryosphere, monitoring the current state, and simulating future changes. Due to a combination of adverse environmental conditions, complex terrain, low accessibility, and numerous unique underlying surfaces, ground-based temperature observations are challenging and sparsely distributed in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Remote sensing has become an effective means of temperature acquisition. Focusing on land surface temperature and near-surface air temperature, this paper elucidates the related methodologies for ground-based observations, satellite, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing retrievals, and summarizes the research progress made by the academic community around the cryosphere of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Furthermore, this paper discusses the applications of remote sensing temperature parameters in frozen ground, lake ice, glaciers, and other aspects of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Challenges in temperature remote sensing acquisition in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau cryosphere are summarized, and future research directions worthy of emphasis are explored. © 2024 SinoMaps Press. All rights reserved.