The geological structure of the upper reaches of the Yellow River is complex, especially in the Sigouxia-Laganxia section. It has always been a high-incidence area of landslide disasters, which poses a threat to the safe operation of the upper reaches of the Yellow River. In this study, based on the high-precision remote sensing image data, the spatial distribution of each landslide was obtained by superimposing the remote sensing image and the 1:50,000 digital elevation model (DEM). Some typical landslides were selected for detailed field investigation and field verification. The results show that the remote sensing image characteristics of landslides in the upper reaches of the Yellow River are obvious. Through remote sensing interpretation and field investigation, a total of 508 landslides of various types were found, including 24 giant landslides. The spatial spreading patterns of landslides mainly include six types: dumb-bell shape, rectangle, saddle type, long arc shape, triangle, and side-by-side shape. The length and width of the landslide deposit are mainly concentrated at 550–1500 m and 600–1500 m, and the average elevation of the sliding body is mainly concentrated between 2000 and 2800 m. The average slope of the landslide is mainly distributed between 15–20°. Giant landslides are mainly distributed in the Jianzha basin area, surrounded by the Jishishan fault and the Lajishan fault in the West Qinling Mountains. The spatial distribution characteristics of giant landslides have obvious regional differences due to different factors such as lithologic differences and riverside erosion. The research results are of great significance for the early identification, prevention, and mitigation of landslide disasters in the upper reaches of the Yellow River.

Against the backdrop of global energy transition, geothermal energy has emerged as a critical renewable resource, yet its exploration remains challenging due to uneven subsurface distribution and complex surface conditions. This study pioneers a novel framework integrating the Normalized Shaded Vegetation Index (NSVI) with radiative transfer-based land surface temperature inversion to detect geothermal anomalies in the Gonghe Basin, Qinghai Province. Using multi-source remote sensing data (GF5 B AHSI, ZY1–02D/E AHSI, and Landsat 9 TIRS), we first constructed NSVI, achieving 97.74% classification accuracy for shadowed vegetation/water bodies (Kappa = 0.9656). This effectively resolved spectral mixing issues in oblique terrain, enhancing emissivity calculations for land surface temperature retrieval. The radiative transfer equation method combined with NSVI-derived parameters yielded high-precision land surface temperature estimates (RMSE = 2.91 °C; R² = 0.963 against Landsat 9 products), revealing distinct thermal stratification: bright vegetation (41.31 °C) > shadowed vegetation (38.43 °C) > water (33.56 °C). Geothermal anomalies were identified by integrating temperature thresholds (>45.80 °C), 7 km fault buffers, and concealed Triassic granite constraints, pinpointing high-potential zones covering 0.12% of the basin. These zones are concentrated in central Gonghe, northern Guinan, and central-northern Guide counties. The framework provides a replicable solution for geothermal prospecting in topographically complex regions, with implications for optimizing exploration across the Gonghe Basin.

In recent years, large-scale linear infrastructure developments have been developed across hundreds of kilometers of permafrost regions on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The implementation of major engineering projects, including the Qinghai–Tibet Highway, oil pipelines, communication cables, and the Qinghai–Tibet Railway, has spurred intensified research into permafrost dynamics. Climate warming has accelerated permafrost degradation, leading to a range of geological hazards, most notably widespread thermokarst landslides. This study investigates the spatiotemporal distribution patterns and influencing factors of thermokarst landslides in Qinghai Province through an integrated approach combining field surveys, remote sensing interpretation, and statistical analysis. The study utilized multi-source datasets, including Landsat-8 imagery, Google Earth, GF-1, and ZY-3 satellite data, supplemented by meteorological records and geospatial information. The remote sensing interpretation identified 1208 cryogenic hazards in Qinghai’s permafrost regions, comprising 273 coarse-grained soil landslides, 346 fine-grained soil landslides, 146 thermokarst slope failures, 440 gelifluction flows, and 3 frost mounds. Spatial analysis revealed clusters of hazards in Zhiduo, Qilian, and Qumalai counties, with the Yangtze River Basin and Qilian Mountains showing the highest hazard density. Most hazards occur in seasonally frozen ground areas (3500–3900 m and 4300–4900 m elevation ranges), predominantly on north and northwest-facing slopes with gradients of 10–20°. Notably, hazard frequency decreases with increasing permafrost stability. These findings provide critical insights for the sustainable development of cold-region infrastructure, environmental protection, and hazard mitigation strategies in alpine engineering projects.

Slope instability may cause severe casualties, property losses, and ecological damage. To accurately evaluate slope stability grades and mitigate geological hazards, a dynamic stability assessment method based on variable weight theory and trapezoidal cloud model is proposed. First, an evaluation index system for slope stability is established following the principles of uniqueness, purposefulness, and scientific validity. Then, to improve the accuracy of subjective constant weights, the intuitionistic fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (IFAHP) is employed to calculate subjective constant weights. Considering the contrast intensity and conflict among indicators, an improved CRITIC method is applied to determine objective constant weights. To balance subjective and objective factors and avoid constant weight imbalance, the optimal comprehensive constant weights are computed based on game theory, effectively reducing bias caused by single weighting methods. Furthermore, to fully account for the influence of indicator state values on their weights, variable weight theory is introduced to dynamically adjust the comprehensive constant weights. Finally, based on the variable weights of evaluation indicators, a trapezoidal cloud model is utilized to construct the slope stability evaluation model, which is validated through an engineering case study. The results indicate that the stability grade of Stage 1 is assessed as basically stable, while Stages 2 and 3 are evaluated as stable. Numerical simulations show the safety factors of the three stages are 1.36, 1.83, and 2.36, respectively, verifying the correctness of the proposed model. The proposed model demonstrates practical engineering value in slope stability assessment and can be referenced for slope reinforcement and hazard prevention in later stages.

Against the backdrop of global climate warming, glaciers across the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau are undergoing widespread retreat, glacial lakes are expanding rapidly, and disasters such as ice avalanches and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) are occurring with increasing frequency, posing severe threats to regional transportation arteries, energy facilities, and urban safety. As a typical concentration area of glaciers and glacier-related hazards, Qinghai Province holds great scientific and engineering significance for related research. By integrating medium- and high-resolution optical imagery, SAR data, InSAR techniques, and field investigation records, this study systematically extracted glacier extent, glacial lake evolution, glacier surface velocity, and mass balance variations in Qinghai Province. Results reveal that between 2000 and 2020, the province’s glaciers retreated by approximately 230.49 km ² , with the most significant shrinkage occurring within the 5,300–5,500 m elevation range. A threefold classification system for ice avalanche hazards, applicable to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is proposed, which includes direct ice avalanche hazards, ice avalanche-glacial lake outburst hazards, and ice avalanche-dammed lake chain hazards. A total of 551 glacier-related geohazard sites were identified in Qinghai Province, primarily concentrated in the Kunlun and Tanggula Mountains. Based on the engineering geological analogy method and a multi-factor weighted overlay approach, a glacier hazard susceptibility assessment system was constructed, dividing the study area into low, medium, and high susceptibility zones. The findings not only deepen the understanding of glacier-climate-hazard coupling mechanisms but also provide a scientific basis for regional disaster prevention, mitigation, and the operational safety of major infrastructure projects.