Trends of freezing period and its main cause on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau from 1961 to 2018

The ecosystems of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) are very sensitive to climate change because their unique structure and function. However, little attention has been paid variations in cold non-growing season. In this study, based on daily mean temperature from 63 meteorological stations throughout the QTP during period 1961 ? 2018, spatial temporal freezing (FP) were investigated. FP was defined as between date first autumn freeze spring thaw second year. Understanding how changes imperative predicting future decision-making for implementing ecological conservation plateau. results showed that start (SFP) exhibited a pronounced increasing trend with rate 0.0704 days year?1 end (EFP) an obviously decreasing 0.2537 at regional scale. length (LFP) presented significant negative 0.3256 scale, which mainly attributed earlier EFP. Spatially, later SFP, EFP, shorter LFP occurred south QTP, covered plateau temperate semi-arid (HIIC2) humid/sub-humid (HIIAB1). For interannual trends, greater delayed SFP advanced EFP observed east Furthermore, study found highly dependent elevation positively correlated elevation, while is negatively elevation. At annual LFP. Increasing dominated variation