EPP

The uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (TP) strongly influences climate change, both regionally and globally. Surface observation data from this region have limited coverage and are difficult to obtain. Consequently, the vertical crustal deformation velocity (VCDV) distribution of the TP is poorly constrained. In this study, VCDV from the TP was inverted using data from the gravity recovery and climate experiment (GRACE). Based on the assumption that the gravity signal detected by GRACE is mainly composed of hydrological factors and vertical crustal movement, by deducting hydrological factors, the vertical crustal movement could be obtained. From this, the distribution of the vertical crustal deformation velocity across the TP was inverted. The results show that the VCDV of the southern, eastern, and northern TP is ~1.1 mm/a, ~0.5 mm/a, and −0.1 mm/a, respectively, while that of the region between the Qilian Haiyuan Fault and Kunlun Fault is ~0.0 mm/a. These results are consistent with the distributions of crustal deformation, thrust earthquakes/faults, and regional lithospheric activity. Hydrology, crustal thickness, and topographic factors do not change the overall distribution of the VCDV across the TP. The influence of hydrological factors is marked, with the maximum differences being approximately −0.4 mm/a in the northwest and 1.0 mm/a in the central area. The results of this study are significant for understanding the kinematics of the TP.