Retrogressive thaw slump expansion and vegetation phenological response in the Qilian Mountains, northeastern Tibetan Plateau

Key Points

• Expansion of retrogressive thaw slumps correlates with changes in vegetation phenology, indicating ecological disturbance.
• Temperature increase influences vegetation growth cycles, resulting in earlier phenological events in plant species.
• Analysis conducted in the Qilian Mountains highlights significant climate change impacts on high-altitude ecosystems.
• Support for understanding connections between thaw dynamics and ecosystem responses under climate change conditions.