ENVIRONMENTAL AND LAND SURFACE PROCESSES STUDY ON THE
TIBETAN PLATEAU—A TEN YEAR PLAN
Yao Tandong, Tan Ge, Kang Shichang, Ma Yaoming, Luo Tianxiang
Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
No.18, Shuangqing Rd., P.O. Box 2871, Beijing, 100085, P.R. China. e-mail: tdyao@itpcas.ac.cn
Abstract
The Tibetan Plateau is often called the “Third Pole”

national stations, and coordinated with international

Because of its significance parallel with Antarctica andmonitoring program.

the Arctic. As a unique geological and geographicalcooperate internationally with all monitoring andunit, the Tibetan Plateau dramatically impacts theresearch programs on the Tibetan Plateau, especiallyworld’s environment and especially controls climaticCEOP.

The FMRP is intended toand environmental changes in Asia or even in theNorthern Hemisphere. The Tibetan Plateau, therefore,
provides a field laboratory for studying global change.
The Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research (ITP) of theChinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) is establishing aField Monitoring and Research Platform (FMRP) on
the Tibetan Plateau.

1. Introduction
The goal of the FMRP consists of three parts:
Environment, Ecology and Geodynamics.

The goalFig.1 Long-Term Plan – Monitoring Stations
on the Tibetan Plateauof Environment Part of the FMRP is to study thecharacteristics of the Plateau’s climate and its

In this Long-term Plan, Five first-order monitoring

interactions with global change; to determine thebases

effects of global warming on the glaciers, lakes, andenvironmental, and atmospheric research, covering thefrozen soils and other processes on the Tibetan Plateau,

major regions of the Tibetan Plateau.

and the ways these changes feedback to global climatechange; to understand the roles of glaciers, lakes,
rainfall, and soil moisture with respect to greenhousegasses and aerosols; to establish relationships between
modern climate and physical, chemical, and biologicalproxies by using remote sensing data and the highresolution records; to reveal (eventually model) theprocesses and mechanisms in the atmosphere, thehydrosphere, the cryosphere, the biosphere and thelithosphere, especially the interface processes between
cryosphere and atmosphere, and between hydrosphereand cryosphere.

2. Long-term Plan
On a long-term time scale (10 years), the FMRP is tobe combined with the construction of the CAS station
network and integrated with the construction ofwill

beconstructedforgeophysical,

2.1 Environment and land surface monitoring
bases
Five monitoring bases will be located in different
zones.

The north base includes glaciological,

meteorological and hydrological observation on theDunde Ice Cap, Qiyi Glacier, Malan Glacier, theQinghai Lake, Taiyang Lake, Zhalin Lake and Erlin
Lake, and Delingha.
glaciological,

The south base includes

meteorologicalandhydrologicalobservation on the Ronbuk Glacier, Kangwure Glacier,Dasuopu Glacier, Yangzhuoyong Glacier in Mt.
Qomolangma(Everest),Mt.

Xixiabangma,

theYangzhuoyong Lake, the Pumoyongco lake (orPeikuco Lake), Dingri and Nienamu.
baseincludes

glaciological,The middle

meteorologicalandhydrological observation on the Puruogangri Icefield

Tanggula Glacier, Yangbajin Glacier, Donghu Lake,

named Wudaoliang station at the north base, Mt.

Namuco Lake, Selinco Lake and Coer Lake.

Qomolangma station at the south base, Gaize station atThewest base includes glaciological, meteorolgical andthe west base, and Linzhi station at the east base.

hydrological observation on the Guliya Ice Cap,

They all monitor stratosphere, troposphere, boundary

Daxiong (or Dajiaco) Glacier, Bange Lake, Kalashi

layer,

precipitation,soil

Lake, Guozhaco Lake and Bangda Lake. The east

moisture, and other ground surface processes.

Twobaseandstations, at Mt. Qomolangma and Numco will alsohydrological observation on the Zepu Glacier, Ranwu

monitor aerosols, atmospheric chemistry, and theGlacier, Aza Glacier, Gonggashan Glacier, Ranwu

vertical distribution of ozone.

Lake, and Linzhi, and ecological observation on Mt.

(1) Observations of the stratosphere and troposphere.

Sejila. These five bases will implement the following

GPS air sounding: to monitor the atmosphericenvironment and process monitoring and research:

structure and movement.

(1) Land surface monitoring.

air temperature, humidity, pressure, and wind.

These observations include changes taking place in

Spatial resolution is 30 meter, daily monitoring.

glaciers, snow, lakes, rivers, rare or endangered(2) Vertical distribution of ozone.

vegetation, and the thickness of frozen soil.

SnowOzone sounding: weekly monitoring of the verticalchanges include cover area, volume, and mass.

Lake

distribution of ozone from 0-30 km, 3 to 4 times each

includeschangesglaciological,include

discharge, etc.

lakelevel,

meteorologicalarea,evaporation,

Typical rivers include the Changjiang

atmosphericradiation,

Observed parameters areweek during the change of seasons.
(3) Observation in the surface layer.

(Yangtze) River and the Huanghe (Yellow) River.

Five level meteorological survey towers: to monitor

Rare and endangered vegetation will be surveyed byair exchange near land surface, and determine lower

remote sensing. The thickness of frozen soil will beboundary parameters, such as five levels of airplotted along the path of the new Tibetan Plateau

temperature, humidity, pressure, and wind at 0-20 m.

Railway.

(4) Boundary layer observations(2) Process monitoring.

Wind temperature profiler: to continually monitor

This research includes hydro-chemical studies (such as

structure and exchange features, including wind,salinity and conductance), biological studies (such astemperature, and structure within the boundary layer,

diatoms and TOC), and observations of life processes

from 300 m to 3 km.

under extreme condition, deposition of spores and(5) Observations of atmospheric radiation

pollens,

Observation system for sunlight and radiation: toprecipitation

ofstableisotopes,

andsedimentation rates.

continually monitor atmospheric radiation, including(3) Interface reaction studies.

long wave radiation, short wave radiation, scattered

This study includes aerosols, sand storms, chemical

waves radiation, and reflected waves radiation.

deposition

fromair,originand(6) Soil thermal flux observations

ofheavy

metalsandSensors for temperature, humidity, and soil heat flux:

particulates, properties of soil at the base of the trees,

to continually monitor heat exchange between soil andand growth processes of tress.

the atmosphere, which including heat exchange(4) Studies of proxies that can be used to reconstructgradient, soil temperatures, humidity and evaporation,

processes

sedimentation

featurespre-historical record of modern process.

at depths from 0-10m.

These studies include the relationship between tree

(7) Precipitation observations

ring records and climate, between stable oxygen

Precipitation observation system: including automaticisotopes and temperature, and between intensity of

precipitation monitoring gauges and manual rainfall

photosynthesis and plant respiration.

records.

2.2 Atmospheric monitoring stations
Four stations will be built for atmospheric monitoring:(8) Atmospheric chemistry observations
Atmospheric chemistry sampling and analysis system:

including optical ozone abundance, real-time analysisof glacier topography, and sediment grain size andof CO2, NOX, SO2, and ground CO3. Experimental

concentration in melt water.

analysis of CO2, CH4, N2O, CO, POPs, VOCs, CFCs

(3) Interface reaction monitoringby weekly sampling.

This(9) Aerosol observation

concentration changes of greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4,

Atmospheric sampling and analysis system: including

N2O), carbon particulates, POPs, SO42-, NO3-, Ca2+,aerosols, and particulates, large flow sampling andNa+, heavy metals, and particulates, snow and glacierexperimental analysis.

chemistry effected by high ultraviolet radiation in highstudy

includeschemicalreactions

andaltitude areas, processes of mass and energy transfer,

3. Short-term Plan

flux monitoring, properties of soils, and the growth of

On a Short-term time scale (3-5years), the FMRP willtrees.

be promoted by the CAS Knowledge Innovation(4) relationships

betweenclimateproxiesandmodern process

Project.

Including the relationship between radial growth oftreerings

andclimate,betweentemperature,

precipitation and stable isotopes, between intensity ofphotosynthesis

andrespiration,

betweenglacialfluctuation and global change.

4.The first three stations in the Short-termPlan
Three integrated all-the-year-round monitoring andresearch stations including Namcuo, Linzhi andQomolangma are under constructing in addition totemporary stations on the whole Tibetan Plateau
Fig.2 Short –Term Plan – Monitoring Stations
on the Tibetan Plateau

during this period. They are:(1) Namcuo Station:
Namcuo Station is built on the shore of the second

The FMRP is intended to internationally link withlargest Chinese salt lake – the Namcuo Lake. The

CEOP and DFG. This Project will facilitate efficient

station covers 0.5ha. including observation site andsupport for international research and cooperation, andliving services area. There will be one Atmospherecreate a better research environment for the long term

Observation Tower (30m) for the normal weather

monitoring.

monitoring, precipitation measurement and aerosol

The main topics of the monitoring and research are asobservation. And the change of the thickness of frozen

follows:

soil will be recorded. Along and inside the Lake,(1) Land surface monitoring.

hydrology and limnology and ecosystem will beTo observe the changes of glaciers, snow, lake, river,studied. Some observation instruments will be sited onvegetation, and meteorology in Mt. Qomolangma

the Mt. Nyangqentangula to monitoring the changes ofregions.

the glaciers on the top of the mountain.

(2) Process monitoring
To observe atmospheric environment processes (such(2) Qomolangma Station

as aerosols, sand storms, initial and derivative air

This station will be located on the north slope of Mt.

pollutants), atmospheric chemistry, hydrochemistry,

Qomolangma (Everest), .

concentrations of stable isotopes in precipitation,
physicochemical processes under glaciers, distribution

NamcuoLinzhi

ITP’s Lhasa Campus
Namcuo Station
Qomolangma station

Qomolangma

Linzhi station

Fig.3 The first three stations on the Tibetan Plateau in the short –term Plan

Qomolangma Station will focus on the observation ofrelationship between Himalayas atmosphere system
and global atmosphere cycle, which will involve
studying the exchange processes of ground layer,
troposphere and stratosphere, monitoring the vertical
distribution of ozone, soil thermal flux observation andatmospheric chemistry observations. This station isintend to monitoring the environment changes of theHimalayas area, find out the cause, and measure theeffect of this changes brings to the surrounding
regions.
(3) Linzhi Station
Linzhi station is composed of meteorology, glaciology,hydrology and vegetation observation. This station
will emphasize the monitoring of forest growth in cold
high Tibetan Plateau. The observation site is divided
into two parts, separately located on the sun andsunless slope of Mt. Sejila. Each part includes several
sample quadrates of forest, shrub and meadow. Radial
growth of tree rings will be measured to build therelationship between tree growth and climate factors.
The temperature, precipitation and stable isotopes inthe sample quadrates will be monitored, and causes forthe form of tree line will be studied based on thisstation’s observation data.

In situ and remote-sensing observation, and laboratory
analyses are essential for the FMRP on the TibetanPlateau. The FMRP is to create a comprehensive,
reliable and continuous data bank, which will produce
long-term,

reliable

criteria,

high-quality,

high-resolution (both in time and space) andhomogeneous data set.
Keyword: Tibetan Plateau, FMRP, Environment