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There are some changes happening in Tibet Autonomous Region in these years such as glaciers melting, lakes water level rising, snow line moving up, etc. Experts agreed that the trend of warming in Tibet accords to that of the globe and the climate change in Tibet is mainly caused by global climate change.
Climate change has become a major concern of the world.
At present, the global environmental change and its significant climate change phenomenon have been no longer just simple scientific and environmental issues, but economic, political and national security issues. The average surface temperature of the earth has risen by 0.4-0.8 degree celcius in the 20th century. Eight out of ten warmest years within the past 150 years used to happen in the last decade (from 1996 to 2005). What's worse, global warming has led to reduction of snow coverage area, decrease and thinning of sea ice area, thickness increase of active permafrost layer; aerosol's significantly increase, global dimming; ecosystem variation or degradation; more extreme weather and climate events, etc.
A report of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) analyses that the various natural disasters cause by climate change made the world lose at least 60 billion USD, 10% more than 55 billion USD in 2002.
Deep impact to Tibet by global climate change
According to the analysis of experts of Tibet meteorology department, Tibet has shown a temperature rise trend in all year long in most areas as well as annual average temperatures, especially in autumn and winter. And it shows higher amplitude in high altitude areas than that in low altitude areas. The annual average temperature of Tibet plateau is increasing by 0.26/decade, much higher than the ratio in the nation and the world. Extreme events continuously happen in the last decade and temperature hits history high repeatedly. The average temperature in winter time has got warmer and warmer and consecutive warm winter occur. The top four warm winters had happened after year 2000. Experts believe that it's caused by the effect of global climate change as background.
Climate change takes deep impact on Tibet ecological environment
The climate of Tibet Autonomous Region has been changed with varing degrees as the global climate is getting warmer. It mainly manifests in temperature rise, glaciers reduction, snow line ascending. The temperature in the whole Mt.Qomolangma area has risen by one degree Celsius since 1970s, according to data of analysis. Mt.Qomolangma has been getting warmer for the last 30 years. Which is caused by global warming. High altitude areas are more sensitive to global warming and the rise amplitude increase as the altitude goes up.
The area of glaciers in Tibet plateau will be reduced by 14%-64% if the global warming continues, and the average area will be reduced by 38%. Which will cause serious problems to the nation and neighbor countries' farming and pasturing production. It's also a potential danger for the residents at the lower reaches of moraine lakes.
Tibet gives reply to climate change
In order to effectively respond to and mitigate the impact of climate change on Tibet ecosystems, agriculture, forestry, water resources, and economic and social development and people's livelihood, Tibet meteorology department has implemented atmospheric monitoring automation system construction project, improved present monitoring equipments, reinforced modernization construction, taken modern meteorology services for disaster prevention and reduction work. It also carries a series of research projects and analysis the effect the climate change has to Tibet ecological system, which provides reference for the government to make scientific decisions. It also makes efforts to protect weak ecological environment by manpower experiments to minimize the effect of climate change. |
