Under the background of global warming, mountain glaciers worldwide are facing strong ablation and retreat, but from existing field observations, it is found that most of the glaciers in the Karakorum region remain stable or are advancing, which is called the ＂Karakorum anomaly＂. Glacier surface velocity is an important parameter for studying glacier dynamics and mass balance. Studying the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of glacier velocity in central Karakorum is significant for understanding the dynamic characteristics of the glacier in this region and its response to climate change. Four pairs of Landsat 7 ETM+ images acquired in 1999 to 2003 (images acquired on 1999.7.16, 2000.6.16, 2001.7.21, 2002.8.9, 2002.4.19, 2003.3.21) were selected; using the panchromatic band with a resolution of 15 m, each pair of images was accurately registered, and then cross-correlation calculations were then performed on each image pair after registration to obtain the surface velocity of the glacier in the central Karakorum region from 1999 to 2003. Due to the lack of velocity observation data in the study area, the accuracy of the ice flow results is estimated using the offset value of the stable region, and the surface velocity error of the glacier is approximately ±7 m/year. The glacier velocity data dates are from 1999 to 2003, with a temporal resolution of one year. They cover the central Karakorum region, with a spatial resolution of 30 m. The data are stored as a GeoTIFF file every year. For details regarding the data, please refer to the data description.

The data set of bacterial diversity in Tibetan soil provides the microbial distribution characteristics of the soil surface (0-2 cm) of the Tibetan Plateau. The samples were collected from July 1st to July 15th, 2015, from three types of ecosystems: meadows, grasslands and desert. The soil samples were stored in ice packs and transported to the Ecological Laboratory of the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research in Beijing. The DNA from the soil was extracted using an MO BIO Power Soil DNA kit. The soil surface samples were stored in liquid nitrogen after collection, shipped to the Sydney laboratory, and then extracted using a Fast Prep DNA kit. The extracted DNA samples adopted 515F (5'-GTGCCAGCMGCCGCGGTAA-3') and 909r (5'-GGACTACHVGGGTWTCTAAT-3') to amplify the 16S rRNA gene fragments. The amplified fragments were sequenced by the Illumina Miseq PE250 method, and the raw data were analyzed using Mothur software. The sequences with poor sequencing quality were first removed; the sequences were sorted, and the chimeric sequences were removed. The similarities between the sequences were then calculated, the sequences with similarities above 97% were clustered into one OTU, and the OTU representative sequence was defined. The OTU representative sequence was compared with the Silva database and identified as level one when the reliability exceeded 80%. The microbial diversities in these data on the Tibetan Plateau were systematically compared, which made them significant to the study of the microbial distribution on the Tibetan Plateau.

Microbial diversity data of lakes on the Tibetan Plateau. One hundred and thirty-eight samples were collected from July 1st to July 15th, 2015, from 28 lakes (Bamco, Baima Lake, Bange Salt Lake, Bangong Lake, Bengco, Bieruozeco, Cuoeco, Cuoe (Pingcuo North), Dawaco, Dangqiongco, Dangreyongco, Dongco, Eyacuoqiong, Gongzhuco, Guogenco, Jiarebuco, Mapangyongco, Namco, Nieerco (Salt Lake), Normaco, Pengyanco, Pengco, Qiangyong, Selinco, Wuruco, Wumaco, Zharinanmuco, and Zhaxico). The salinity gradients range from 0.07-118 ppm. The DNA extraction method: The DNA was extracted using an MO BIO PowerSoil DNA kit after the lake water was filtered onto a 0.45 membrane. The 16S rRNA gene fragment amplification primers were 515F (5'-GTGCCAGCMGCCGCGGTAA-3') and 909r (5'-GGACTACHVGGGTWTCTAAT-3'). The sequencing method was Illumina MiSeq PE250, and the raw data were analyzed by Mothur software, including quality filtering and chimera removal. The sequence classification was based on the Silva109 database, and archaea, eukaryotic and unknown source sequences have been removed. OTUs were classified by 97% similarity, and sequences that appear once in the database were then removed. Finally, each sample was resampled to 7,230 sequences/sample. GPS coordinates, evolutionary information, and environmental factors are listed in the data.

The continuous advancement of SAR interferometry technology makes it possible to obtain multitemporal DEMs with high precision in the glacial area. In particular, in 2000, the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) led by NASA provided DEM data covering the area from 56ºS to 60ºN; the TanDEM-X bistatic SAR interferometry system of DLR could provide the global DEM data with high resolution and precision. These high-quality, large-coverage SAR interferometry data, as well as published DEM data products, provided valuable information for using the multitemporal DEMs to detect changes in ice thickness. The temporal coverage of the ice thickness variation data of typical glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau was from 2000 to 2013, covering Puruogangri and the west Qilian Mountains with a spatial resolution of 30 meters. Using TanDEM-X bistatic InSAR data and a C-band SRTM DEM, the differential radar interferometry method was first used to generate a TanDEM-X DEM with high precision. Then, based on the precise registration of DEM, the DEM data obtained in different periods were compared. Lastly, the ice thickness changes were estimated. The format of the data set was GeoTIFF, and each typical glacier ice thickness change was stored in a folder. For details of the data, please refer to the Ice elevation changes for typical glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau - Data Description.

The glacial bacterial resource database of the Tibetan Plateau provides the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences of several glaciers, which are seven glaciers of the Tibetan Plateau separated by an experimental group led by Yongqin Liu during 2010 to 2018 (East Rongbuk Glacier of Mt. Qomolangma, Tianshan Glacier No.1, Guliya Glacier, Laohugou Glacier, Muztagh Ata Glacier, Qiyi Glacier and Yuzhufeng Glacier), the Malan Glacier separated by Shurong Xiang and the Puruogangri Glacier separated by Xinfang Zhang. After the glacier samples were collected, they were taken to the Ecological Laboratory of the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing and the National Cryosphere Laboratory in Lanzhou. After applying the spread plate method, the samples were cultured at different temperatures (4-25 °C) for 20 days to 90 days, and single colonies were picked out for purification. After the DNA was extracted from the isolated bacteria, the 16S ribosomal RNA gene fragment was amplified with 27F/1492R primer and sequenced using the Sanger method. The 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence was compared with the RDP database using the "Classifier" software and identified as level one when the reliability exceeded 80%. These data contain the 16S ribosomal RNA gene fragment sequence and glacier sources of each sequence. Compared with sequences based on high-throughput sequencing, these data have a longer sequence and more accurate classification and can better serve in glacier microbiology research.

Using the Modis1B data of 11 scenes from 2003 to 2013 (the ice shelf Modis1B data published on the NSIDC website), the surface velocity of the Antarctic Amery Ice Shelf was extracted by the subpixel cross-correlation method, the ice velocity was extracted by the COSI-Corr software, and then the time sequence of annual average velocities for nearly ten years was obtained. Due to the lack of field observations in the study area, the accuracy of the ice flow results was estimated by using the offset value of the stable region, and the ice flow error was approximately ±50 m/year. The ice velocity data date from 2003 to 2013, the temporal resolution is one year, and the data cover the Amery area with a spatial resolution of 500 m. A GeoTIFF file of velocity data is stored every year. For details regarding the data, please refer to the Amery Ice Flow Field - Data Description.

The Antarctic and Arctic bacterial distribution data set provides distribution characteristics of bacteria in the Arctic and Antarctic. The collection period of the samples was from December 13,2005, to December 8,2006; 52 samples were obtained from 3 Arctic regions (Spitsbergen Slijeringa, Spitsbergen Vestpynten, and Alexandra Fjord_Highlands), and 171 samples were obtained from 5 Antarctic regions (the Mitchell Peninsula, Casey station main Power house, Robinsons Ridge, Herring Island, and Browning Peninsula). The soil surface samples were stored in liquid nitrogen after collection, shipped to a Sydney laboratory, and extracted using the FastPrep DNA kit. The extracted DNA samples were processed by 27F (5'-GAGTTTGATCNTGGCTCA-3' and 519R (5'-GTNTTACNGCGGCKGCTG-3') to amplify the 16S rRNA gene fragments. The amplified fragments were sequenced by the 454 method, and the raw data were analyzed by Mothur software. First, the sequences with poor sequencing quality were removed, the sequences were then sorted, and the chimera sequences were removed. The similarities between the sequences were calculated, the sequences with similarities above 97% were clustered into one OTU, and the OTU representative sequence was defined. By comparison with the Silva database, the OTU sequences with reliabilities greater than 80% were identified as level one. This data system compared the diversity of microorganisms in the eastern Antarctic with that in the Arctic and is of great significance for the study of the distributions of microorganisms in the Antarctic and Arctic.

As the main parameter in the land surface energy balance, surface temperature indicates the degree of land-atmosphere energy and water transfer and is widely used in research on climatology, hydrology and ecology. In the study of frozen soil, climate is one of the decisive factors for the existence and development of frozen soil. The surface temperature is the main climatic factor affecting the distribution of frozen soil and affects the occurrence, development and distribution of frozen soil. It is the upper boundary condition for modelling frozen soil and is significant to the study of hydrological processes in cold regions. The data set was based on the DEM and observation station data of the Tibetan Plateau Engineering Corridor and analysed the changing trend of surface temperature on the Tibetan Plateau from 2000 to 2014. Using the surface temperature data products MOD11A1/A2 and MYD11A1/A2 of MODIS aboard Terra and Aqua, the surface temperature information under cloud cover was reconstructed based on the spatio-temporal information of the images. The reconstruction information and surface temperature representativeness problems were analysed using information obtained from 8 sites, including the Kunlun Mountains (wetland, grassland), Beiluhe (grassland, meadow), Kaixinling (meadow, grassland), and Tanggula Mountain (meadow, wetland). According to the correlation coefficient (R2), root-mean-square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE) and mean deviation (MBE), the following results were obtained: (1) the reconstruction accuracy of MODIS surface temperature under cloud cover is higher when it is based on spatio-temporal information; (2) the weighted average representation is the best when generalizing four observations of Terra and Aqua. By analysing the reconstruction of MODIS surface temperature information and representativeness problems, the average annual MODIS surface temperature data of the Tibetan Plateau and the engineering corridor from 2000 to 2010 were obtained. According to the data set, the surface temperature from 2000 to 2010 also experienced volatile rising trends from 2000 to 2010, which is basically consistent with the changing trend of the climate change in the permafrost regions of the Tibetan Plateau and the Qinghai-Tibet Engineering Corridor.

The variation in the duration of snow on the Tibetan Plateau is relatively great, and the high mountainous areas around the plateau are rich in snow and ice resources. Taking full account of the terrain of the Tibetan Plateau and the snow characteristics in the mountains, the data set adopted AVHRR data to gradually realize generating data products for daily, ten-day, and monthly snow cover areas while maintaining the snow classification accuracy. These data included the daily/10-day/monthly snow cover area data for the Tibetan Plateau from 2007 to 2015, the average accuracy of which is 0.92. It can provide reliable data for snow changes during the historical periods of the Tibetan Plateau.

The long-time series data set of snow cover area on the qinghai-tibet plateau is derived from the fusion of MODIS 005 version and IMS data set, andThe cloud-free products of daily snow cover area were obtained by using interpolation de-cloud algorithm.The projection is latitude and longitude, the spatial resolution is 0.005 degrees (about 500m), and the time is a long time series from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2014. Each file is the result of the proportion of snow cover area on that day, and the value is 0-100 (%). It is the ENVI standard file, The naming convention： ims_mts_yyyyddd.tif, where YYYY stands for year and DDD stands for Julian day (001-365/366).Files can be directly used ENVI or ARCMAP software open view. Document description: 200 snow, 100 lake ice, 25 land, 37 sea

The past frozen soil map of the Tibetan Plateau was based on a small number of temperature station observations and used a classification system based on continuity. This data set used the geographically weighted regression model (GWR) to synthesize MODIS surface temperature, leaf area index, snow cover ratio and multimodel soil moisture forecast products of the National Meteorological Information Center through spatiotemporal reconstruction. In addition, precipitation observations of more than 40 meteorological stations, the precipitation products of FY2 satellite observations and the multiyear average temperature observation data of 152 meteorological stations from 2000 to 2010 were integrated to simulate the average temperature data of the Tibetan Plateau, and the permafrost thermal condition classification system was used to classify permafrost into several types: Very cold, Cold, Cool, Warm, Very warm, and Likely thawing. The map shows that, after deducting lakes and glaciers, the total area of permafrost on the Tibetan Plateau is approximately 1,071,900 square kilometers. Verification shows that this map has higher accuracy. It can provide support for future planning and design of frozen soil projects and environmental management.