A Study on the Hydrothermal Regime of Aeolian Sand and the Underlying Soil in the Frozen Soil Zone on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

•The aeolian sand thickness governs the hydrothermal regime of the shallow soil.•The aeolian sand cover increases the amplitude of variation on soil temperature.•The aeolian sand cover decreases the soil water content.•The aeolian sand cover weakens the soil heat budgets.