Permafrost Degradation and Its Environmental Sequent in the Source Regions of the Yellow River

From the available data of eco-environmental geology and desertification due to permafrost degradation in the source regions of the Yellow River, it is found that the eco-environment is deteriorating in permafrost regions. Permafrost degradation results in lowering or disappearing of the level of groundwater in the seasonal thawing layer, on which the growth of alpine meadow in cold regions depends. Thus, the alpine meadow in cold regions is degrading, together with water environment aggravating. It is the main reason that the alpine meadow, which holds the balance in the source regions of the Yellow River, is losing water and going to desertification.