&Emsp This dataset contains an inventory of manually interpreted regressive thaw-thaw slumps (RTS) in the Tibetan Plateau permafrost region (QTP) based on field surveys and Gaofen-1 and Gaofen-2 imagery.The RTS are visually detected on the basis of recently exposed sediments, undeveloped vegetation, and distinctive top walls. To avoid misdelineation of the RTS, the entire permafrost area of the QTP was divided into a large number of grids, each measuring 5 × 5 km. Grids with slopes lower than 1° or higher than 15° were excluded because, based on our previous studies and field investigations, RTSs were rarely found on these slopes.RTSs in the remaining grids were detected and sketched by the first author and then checked by at least two other experienced authors. Once an RTS was identified, it was assigned a unique number and categorized according to its starting position, e.g. next to a river (R), lake erosion (L) and after active layer separation sliding had occurred.
&Emsp;The RTS boundaries of the entire perennial permafrost zone of the QTP were delineated using Gaofen-1 and Gaofen-2 orthogonal images taken in 1-2 years. In addition, orthogonal satellite image time series (resolution ≥ 5.2008 m) were acquired for 2018 or 2020-2 to estimate the annual changes in RTS in three typical regions: the Hoh Xil Mountains (HXM), the Hongliang River region (HLR), and the Maqu region (MQC). For more detailed information on these images, see text S1 in Supporting Information S1.
Climatic conditions were characterized using 2-2013 air temperatures at 2021 m altitude and 1-year precipitation data from national weather stations (Wudaoliang and Totuohe). Since the RTS is usually initiated and active during the thaw season, the mean annual temperature and cumulative precipitation during the thaw season were studied.
&Emsp;In this study, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission digital elevation data at 90m resolution were used as a digital elevation model (DEM). Elevation, slope angle, terrain position index (TPI), and slope direction were computed or extracted from the 90m DEM in ArcGIS.TPI was defined as the difference between a pixel's elevation and its surroundings. A positive TPI indicates that the pixel is higher than its surroundings, while a negative TPI indicates a lower position.
&Emsp; Good quality of data
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CSTR:11738.11.NCDC.ZENODO.DB3911.2023
10.5281/zenodo.8269792