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    Third Pole Environment
    2023.04.04
    Our latest study has just been published on Nature Geoscience , uncovering hidden ice melt and the " invisible " loss of glaciers underwater in the Himalaya . To put i...

    Exciting news! Our latest study has just been published on Nature Geoscience, uncovering hidden ice melt and the "invisible" loss of glaciers underwater in the Himalaya.To put it into perspective, the study reveals that 2.7 Gt of glacier mass loss, equivalent to 570 million elephants (or over 1,000 times the total number of elephants living in the world), went unaccounted for in the greater Himalaya due to the limitations of satellite imaging.

    Thanks to the combined efforts of our international team, we've improved our understanding of glacier mass loss by combining multi-temporal satellite data with bathymetric measurements.

    The research highlights the significant underestimation of glacier mass loss, which has critical implications for future water resources in the region.

    This discovery underscores the importance of incorporating subaqueous mass loss from lake-terminating glaciers in future projections and glacier evolution models.

    Read our press release for more details: http://www.tpe.ac.cn/highlights/202304/t20230404_329006.html

    Read the paper yourself:

    https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-023-01150-1

    #GlacierLoss #Himalaya #ClimateChange #WaterResources #HiddenIceMelt#Third Pole Environment

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    Third Pole Environment
    2023.03.22
    In a recent study , Scientists evaluated the effect of Tibetan Plateau Darkening on Local and Remote Climates . To know more about their findings , click here : https ...

    In a recent study, Scientists evaluated the effect of Tibetan Plateau Darkening on Local and Remote Climates.

    To know more about their findings, click here: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-35672-w 

    #TibetanPlateau #TPE

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    Third Pole Environment
    2022.10.21
    How much have we learned so far ? And what still remains to be known ? Find out here : https : / / doi . org / 10.1038 / s43017-022 - 00342-4 #ThirdPoleEnvironment #T...

    The Third Pole region in the Tibetan plateau has the largest ice cover after the polar regions. But climate change is now threatening to change all that. With rising temperatures, the glaciers are melting away and the region is losing its snow cover.

    But worry not! Scientists from around the world have come together and set up the Third Pole Environment (TPE) Program, which monitors how climate change is affecting the Third Pole. But, how much have we learned so far? And what still remains to be known?

    Find out here:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-022-00342-4

     
    [video:17df8bdc92f52872ccec0e4aacade0fb]

     

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    视频
    Third Pole Environment
    2022.07.13
    TPE scientists have contributed to the UNEP scientific assessment of the Third Pole environment , which condenses the latest knowledge on the various aspects of the T...

    TPE scientists have contributed to the UNEP scientific assessment of the Third Pole environment, which condenses the latest knowledge on the various aspects of the Third Pole, such as climate, water systems, biodiversity, and the impact of human activities.

    A quick overivew of the report is available now at

    http://www.tpe.ac.cn/highlights/202206/t20220608_306335.html

    — feeling proud.


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    Third Pole Environment
    2022.07.12
    It is difficult to read someone ' s mind , much more so if that someone is actually a machine .Through an innovative approach , they managed to make their machine lear...

    It is difficult to read someone's mind, much more so if that someone is actually a machine. But that does not stop TPE scientists from trying.

    Machine learning is greatly challenged by its reputation of being black boxes when applying to scientific studies. A recent study investigated how climate influences the amount of electricity used in Tibet homes. Through an innovative approach, they managed to make their machine learning models interpretable, revealing the importance of precipitation and urbanization when analyzing the relationship between energy consumption and climate.

    The original research is available at

    https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/9/3355

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    Third Pole Environment
    2022.06.07
    “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving." said Albert Einstein. If so, maintaining the balance of the physical world seems much tri...

    “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving." said Albert Einstein.

    If so, maintaining the balance of the physical world seems much trickier.

    According to a recent research by TPE scientists,Third Pole, or the Asian Water Tower, has gotten out of balance as liquid water increases and solid water decreases. On top of that, more liquid water was found in and projected for the northern than the Southern Third Pole.

    What broke the balance of the Asian Water Tower? Why does it matter? What does it mean for us? Watch the video to find out!

    The original research is available at https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-022-00299-4

     

    [video:Why imbalance of AWT matters]

     

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    视频
    Third Pole Environment
    2022.05.24
    If climate change is making glaciers melt and causing floods, then why is water shortage expected? This might sound like a ‘gotcha’ statement used by climate change...
    If climate change is making glaciers melt and causing floods, then why is water shortage expected?

    This might sound like a ‘gotcha’ statement used by climate change deniers, but there is actually a very simple explanation. It all ties back to snowmelt.
     
    Watch the video to find out how climate change is affecting snowmelt
     
    [video:c25a867ae811b1f5dd77fa1312bf83aa]
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    视频
    Third Pole Environment
    2022.05.16
    The launch of "A Scientific Assessment of the Third Pole Environment” conference, hosted by the United Nations Environmental Programme, occurs on April 28, 2022. One ...

    The launch of "A Scientific Assessment of the Third Pole Environment” conference, hosted by the United Nations Environmental Programme, occurs on April 28, 2022. One of the important outcomes of this conference was the Third Pole Environment (TPE) assessment report, which discusses new discoveries surrounding the climatic and ecological changes occurring in the Third Pole region (the highest ecosystem in the world, which provides freshwater to many surrounding regions), how human activities are impacting these changes negatively, and the dangerous consequences of an increasingly warmer and wetter climate in this region.


    Read the full report at https://www.unep.org/.../launch-event-scientific...

    #UNEP #ThirdPole #TPE #ClimateChange #Ecosystem #GlobalWarming #ScientificAssessment #Conference #ClimateChange 

    report

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    Third Pole Environment
    2022.05.10
    Have you ever held a wet sponge under the tap? The water runs off its surface, doesn’t it? The ground is quite similar to a sponge that way. There’s only so much wa...

    Have you ever held a wet sponge under the tap? The water runs off its surface, doesn’t it?


    The ground is quite similar to a sponge that way. There’s only so much water it can hold. So, what happens to the excess? What’s it called? And where does it come from?


    Find out more about ‘river runoff.’ Watch the video!


    #TPE #thirdpoleenvironment

     

    [video:4]

     

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    视频
    Third Pole Environment
    2022.05.07
    “If they have no water, let them drink juice!” Whoa, hold on a minute, modern-day Marie Antoinette! It’s not as simple as that. We use water for more than just hyd...

    “If they have no water, let them drink juice!”


    Whoa, hold on a minute, modern-day Marie Antoinette! It’s not as simple as that. We use water for more than just hydration. It’s an essential component of farming, manufacturing, energy storage, energy generation… the list goes on. And now, that precious water supply is under threat due to, you guessed it, climate change.


    Watch to find out more!


    #TPE #ThirdPoleEnvironment #Water

    [video:3]
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    视频
    Third Pole Environment
    2022.04.19
    We’re always telling you about how ice cores function as history books, but did you know they keep a record of past temperatures too? Scientists have discovered that...
    We’re always telling you about how ice cores function as history books, but did you know they keep a record of past temperatures too? Scientists have discovered that some kinds of water are more common at certain temperatures than others. No, we don’t mean Evian or Perrier. We’re talking about different isotopes of water!

    Find out how isotopes of water in ice cores tell us about past temperatures:

     #TPE #ThirdPole #ThirdPoleEnvironment #Isotopes #Temperature #Water


     

    [video:2]

     

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    视频
    Third Pole Environment
    2022.04.07
    Where does one go to for all the latest updates on the climate? For climate scientists, the best source of information is at the poles. Temperature changes at the Arct...

    Where does one go to for all the latest updates on the climate? For climate scientists, the best source of information is at the poles. Temperature changes at the Arctic, Antarctic, and Third Pole are crucial to understanding how the Earth’s climate is changing.


    Watch to find out more!


    #TPE #ThirdPole #ThirdPoleEnvironment #Temperature #Water

     

    [video:1]

     

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    视频
    Third Pole Environment
    2022.03.28
    What’s the difference between a goalkeeper and the Third PoleOne blocks goals and the other blocks gales! But did you know that just by blocking winds, the Third Pol...

    What’s the difference between a goalkeeper and the Third PoleOne blocks goals and the other blocks gales!

    But did you know that just by blocking winds, the Third Pole has created forests and swamps? How, you ask? Watch on to find out:

    #TPE #ThirdPole #ThirdPoleEnvironment #Climate #ClimateChange #GlobalWarming #ThirdPoleWall

     

    [video:20220331]

     

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    视频
    Third Pole Environment
    2022.03.04
    Things that happen in one part of the world can have a huge effect on everyone else!For many people, climate change feels like a distant reality that has no immediate ...

    Things that happen in one part of the world can have a huge effect on everyone else!For many people, climate change feels like a distant reality that has no immediate consequences to their daily lives. But how correct is that assumption?

    Find out how climate change will affect you:

    #TPE #ThirdPole #ThirdPoleEnvironment #Climate #ClimateChange

     

    [video:eb903b67e758e16b615a55d9532a0fd2]

     

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    视频
    Third Pole Environment
    2022.02.17
    Prof. Lonnie Thompson explains climate change with ice-core studies and shares his unique version of "having a mindsetchange". Prof. Lonnie Thompson has retrieved and...

    Prof. Lonnie Thompson explains climate change with ice-core studies and shares his unique version of "having a mindsetchange".

    Prof. Lonnie Thompson has retrieved and studied ice cores from some of the most challenging peaks in the world, deriving a wealth of information about climate records. He initiated the TPE program with Profs. Tandong Yao and Volker Mosbrugger to sustain and increase these efforts in the Third Pole region.

    Watch his TED talk at:

     

    [video:912cc5c61adbe3902edeb9c42352d60a]

     

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    视频
    Third Pole Environment
    2022.02.08
    Did you know aerosols can tell us about history? Now, before you start studying the label of your can of Axe for your next history exam—it’s not as simple as that. T...
    Did you know aerosols can tell us about history? Now, before you start studying the label of your can of Axe for your next history exam —it’s not as simple as that.

    To find out how aerosols give us information on past events, watch this episode of Trivia by TPE

    #TPE #ThirdPole #ThirdPoleEnvironment #Climate #ClimateChange #Aerosols

     

    [video:2022-2]
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    视频
    Third Pole Environment
    2022.01.20
    Nothing reveals more about the climate, past and present, than ice from the world’s poles. But this ice is melting fast, which makes ice cores collected from the po...

    Nothing reveals more about the climate, past and present, than ice from the world’s poles. 

    But this ice is melting fast, which makes ice cores collected from the poles of increasing scientific value. The very first ice cores from the Third Pole were collected about 36 years ago, setting the stage for the birth of TPE.
    Read more about how TPE began and the myriad secrets revealed by the Third Pole ice cores: 
     
    [video:d455f4ea2a7022f35f505cfb1011c252]
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    视频
    Third Pole Environment
    2022.01.11
    ‘I am the shield that guards the realms of men,’ said the Third Pole , as it sprung up from the collision of the Indian plate with the Eurasian plate… Wait a minute...

    ‘I am the shield that guards the realms of men,’ said the Third Pole , as it sprung up from the collision of the Indian plate with the Eurasian plate… Wait a minute, this isn’t from #GameOfThrones. Aren’t we talking about real life here?

    While the Third Pole is very real, it certainly functions much like its fictional counterpart. The uplift of the Third Pole protects much of East and South Asia from harsh freezing winds and freezing conditions.

    And the Night’s Watch? Our very own TPE scientists, who are striving hard to protect the world from the perils of the climate change. But the similarities don’t end there. Read on to find out how else the Third Pole is like the Wall from #GameOfThrones:http://www.tpe.ac.cn/stories/202005/t20200529_237984.html 

    #GameOfThrones #ASOIAF #TPE #ThirdPole #ThirdPoleEnvironment #TheWall #NightsWatch #ClimateChange #ClimateScience

     

    [video:20221-2]

     

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    视频
    Third Pole Environment
    2022.01.05
    A bunch of researchers from TPE led by Prof. Ma Yaoming took an expedition across the Third Pole as part of the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Resear...
    A bunch of researchers from TPE led by Prof. Ma Yaoming took an expedition across the Third Pole as part of the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research (STEP, one of TPE’s science projects) Program, to study Westerly-monsoon interaction and its impact. The team braved torrential rain, extreme and unpredictable weather conditions, and a difficult terrain of almost 10,000 kilometers.

    They collected weather and climate data and learned much on this journey, returning successfully, and with a pocketful of memories!

    Read more about their (literally) path breaking journey: 

    http://www.tpe.ac.cn/stories/202109/t20210922_283931.html

    #TPE #ThirdPole #ThirdPoleEnvironment #ClimateResearch #research #ClimateChange #TibetanPlateau

     

    [video:20221-1]

     

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    视频
    Third Pole Environment
    2022.12.30
    As one of the first female paleoclimateologists, Dr. Ellen Mosley Thompson used to be a woman in a man’s world. Braving those who were biased against women in scienc...
    As one of the first female paleoclimateologists, Dr. Ellen Mosley Thompson used to be a woman in a man’s world. Braving those who were biased against women in science, and extreme weather conditions without proper facilities, Dr. Mosley Thompson, however, has emerged a leader in her field.

    We at TPE have always valued diversity and excellence. Here’s to working with great scientists–of all races, genders, and backgrounds!

    To know more about Dr. Mosley-Thompson, visit: https://www.osu.edu/.../pioneers-of-paleoclimatology.html

    #TPE #ThirdPole #ThirdPoleEnvironment #ClimateResearch #research #ClimateChange #glaciers #ice #IceCore #PolarIce #WomenInScience #WomenInSTEM #diversity #GenderEquality

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    Third Pole Environment
    2021.12.20
    We know that climate change is transforming the Earth, but how? And what could be the potential consequences? One of the ways scientists keep track of the Earth is by ...
     We know that climate change is transforming the Earth, but how? And what could be the potential consequences?
    One of the ways scientists keep track of the Earth is by measuring its temperature. But how do you take the temperature of the Earth? Place a thermometer in its mouth? Of course not. But some parts of the world are more sensitive to changes than others, like the Arctic, Antarctic and of course, the Third Pole.
    Find out how scientists take the Earth’s temperature here: http://www.tpe.ac.cn/stories/202004/t20200426_235277.html
     #TPE #ThirdPole  #ThirdPoleEnvironment   #ClimateChange  #Temperature  #TemperatureMonitoring #GlobalWarming
     
    [video:e79acbf014072c384ad2c77cbc2d3ac2]
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    视频
    Third Pole Environment
    2021.12.09
    Black swans are rare events with a major impact, like massive, unexpected droughts or floods. The past is littered with black swans that contain information that could...

      Black swans are rare events with a major impact, like massive, unexpected droughts or floods. The past is littered with black swans that contain information that could help predict the climate of our modern world. Too bad that we didn’t have the technology to study them back then, right?

      Not so much. Turns out records of these events are held deep inside the planet’s ice. To find out what secrets ice cores hold, read:  

      http://www.tpe.ac.cn/stories/202010/t20201022_245087.html  Air Bubbles in an ice core /British Antarctic Survey

      

      

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    Third Pole Environment
    2021.12.08
    Does the evolution and development of human civilization stand with or against nature? As we continue to tap natural resources for our myriad and often disruptive acti...
    Does the evolution and development of human civilization stand with or against nature? As we continue to tap natural resources for our myriad and often disruptive activities, whether we are prepared for or vulnerable to nature’s backlash is a question we cannot afford to ignore. 
    To find an answer, researchers have analyzed the trends in cropland usage, climate changes, and human activities across the Yellow River-Huangshui River Valley in north-eastern Tibetan Plateau over the past 300 years. 
    Click to know more on how socio-economic development influences environmental changes and how technological advancements are making the human race more resilient towards climatic changes: 
    http://www.tpe.ac.cn/research/202106/t20210623_273029.html
    Hassan OUAJBIR

     #Huangshui #AnthropogenicActivities #Socioeconomy #TPE #Agriculture #ClimateChange 

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    Third Pole Environment
    2021.12.10
    The Asian Water Towers – at about five times the height of the Burj Khalifa, would easily be the tallest buildings on Earth. But luckily for the Burj, water towers ar...

    The Asian Water Towers – at about five times the height of the Burj Khalifa, would easily be the tallest buildings on Earth. But luckily for the Burj, water towers aren’t actual towers. They refer to high mountain snow and glaciers that store water and feed rivers. The Asian Water Towers in the Third Pole provide water to 126 million people. But they are under threat because of #ClimateChange.

    Finding ways to predict the changes to these Water Towers is of major importance to our future. Watch Dr. Philip Kraaijenbrink explain how to do just that: http://www.tpe.ac.cn/stories/202103/t20210323_266377.html 

    #ThirdPole #ThirdPoleEnvironment #AsianWaterTowers #AsianWaterTowerWorkshop #IceMonitoring #GlacierObservationNetwork

     

    [video:modelling the future]

     

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    视频
    Third Pole Environment
    2021.12.04
    Permafrost? What’s that, a new Marvel superhero? No, it’s frozen soil that is incredibly important to #ClimateChange ! Watch to find out why! #TPE #ThirdPoleEnviron...

    Permafrost? What’s that, a new Marvel superhero? No, it’s frozen soil that is incredibly important to #ClimateChange  ! Watch to find out why!
    #TPE #ThirdPoleEnvironment #ClimateChange #ClimateScience

    [video:TPECN_23_4_video_section4_Nov_18_2021]
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    视频
    Third Pole Environment
    2021.12.02
    You raise me up, so I can form high mountains/ You raise me up to cause the Alpine orogeny...’ may be what people think Eurasia would sing to India if Westlife was po...

    You raise me up, so I can form high mountains/ You raise me up to cause the Alpine orogeny...’ may be what people think Eurasia would sing to India if Westlife was popular among continental plates.
    But it turns out that the Third Pole wasn’t formed exclusively by this continental collision. #TPEscientists have discovered that the Tibetan Plateau has evolved through a variety of processes, like a gigantic geological jigsaw.
    Find out the different processes that led to the formation of the Third Pole:http://www.tpe.ac.cn/research/202006/t20200609_238595.html

    by Chunlin Mark

    #ThirdPole #ThirdPoleEnvironment #TibetanPlateau

    #ContinentalCollision #PlateTectonics #Geophysics

    #EurasiaIndiaCollision

     

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    Third Pole Environment
    2021.12.01
    Much like the Lady of the Lake gave Excalibur to King Arthur, the lakes in the Third Pole provide #TPE scientists with their greatest weapon against climate change: in...

    Much like the Lady of the Lake gave Excalibur to King Arthur, the lakes in the Third Pole provide #TPE scientists with their greatest weapon against climate change: information.

    Changes in lake size, lake temperature, ice cover and ice duration all provide valuable information on the water cycle and how it is being affected by climate change.

    Read more about the state of lakes in the Third Pole: http://www.tpe.ac.cn/research/202007/t20200721_240793.html

    YamdrokTso by Chunlin Mark

    #ThirdPole #ThirdPoleEnivronment #Lakes

     #ThirdPoleLakes #Hydrology #Limnology #Glaciology

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    Third Pole Environment
    2021.11.30
    “Night gathers, and now my watch begins” vowed the Night's watch in #gameofthrones. At TPE, the vow should be "climate change looms, and now my watch begins". #TPE s...

    “Night gathers, and now my watch begins” vowed the Night's watch in #gameofthrones. At TPE, the vow should be "climate change looms, and now my watch begins". #TPE scientists have been closely watching Third Pole climate and environmental changes for years.

    They estimate that by 2030, climate change is going to affect water availability for about a third of the world’s population. Not just that, it’s going to cause natural hazards like floods, droughts, and landslides too. That’s why they have set up a monitoring network consisting of satellites, drones, ice monitoring stations etc. to keep a watch on the Third Pole and steer global resources and research towards protecting the vast populations that live downstream of the Third Pole.

    Read more about how the TPE is working hard to protect local communities in the Third Pole: http://www.tpe.ac.cn/stories/202104/t20210401_266897.html 

    #ThirdPole #ThirdPoleEnvironment #AsianWaterTowers #AsianWaterTowerWorkshop #IceMonitoring #GlacierObservationNetwork

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    Third Pole Environment
    2021.11.29
    “I played a “bridge” role in building the TPE Center in Kathmandu, which has developed into the Kathmandu Centre for Research and Education, Chinese Academy of Scie...

    “I played a “bridge” role in building the TPE Center in Kathmandu, which has developed into the Kathmandu Centre for Research and Education, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Tribhuvan University (KCRE CAS-TU),” remarks Dr. Dambaru Kattel, Associate Professor at the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research and TPE’s first-ever international Ph.D student

    Dr. Kattel was instrumental in the establishment of the KCRE CAS-TU, a leading research institute. Today, the institute contributes to global environmental protection and is expected to grow into an active research hub for South and Central Asia.

    Dr. Kattel has since worked extensively in the fields of meteorology and climate change. He received the prestigious CAS President’s International Fellowship Initiative in 2016, and continues to work closely with TPE even today.

    Find out more about Dr. Kattel here:

    https://video.cas.cn/.../20201230_176b170da6f_r29_800k.mp4

     

    [video:202112]

     

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    视频
    Third Pole Environment
    2021.11.26
    #Climatescientists warn that the Earth’s #cryosphere is shrinking rapidly. But what exactly is the #Cryosphere, and what does it have to do with #ClimateChange? Watch...
    #Climatescientists warn that the Earth’s #cryosphere is shrinking rapidly. But what exactly is the #Cryosphere, and what does it have to do with #ClimateChange? Watch to find out :
    [video:TPECN_23_4_video_section5_Nov_18_2021]
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    Third Pole Environment
    2021.12.10
    While plants might not feel pain, they do have an unusual sensitivity known as #phenological sensitivity to #climatechange : Plants have altered their growth cycles in...

    While plants might not feel pain, they do have an unusual sensitivity known as #phenologicalsensitivity to #climatechange: Plants have altered their growth cycles in response to changing temperatures and this makes them capable of absorbing more #CO2.

    Studying how plants react to changes in their environment can help us understand ecological feedback and productivity in response to climate change. Keeping this in mind, TPE scientists studied the phenological trends during a unique period from 1998-2012, when global warming had paused. During this hiatus, they found that CO2 absorption had increased.

    Find out more here:

    http://www.tpe.ac.cn/research/202011/t20201130_254455.html

    We Are Wildness University

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    Third Pole Environment
    2021.11.23
    The Third Pole headquarters several major rivers flowing across Asia. These rivers, known as the #AsianWaterTowers, quench the thirst of several people downstream. Ho...

    The Third Pole headquarters several major rivers flowing across Asia. These rivers, known as the #AsianWaterTowers, quench the thirst of several people downstream.

    However, despite increased #rainfalland #meltingof glaciers, studies show that the #runofffrom these rivers will not be able to satisfy the needs of these populations.That doesn’t need to make our optimism run dry! TPE scientists have projected estimates of future #precipitationin the area. Using these estimates can better prepare us for what’s coming, so that local populations can adapt to this change in supply.

    http://www.tpe.ac.cn/research/202101/t20210112_261602.html

    Original Research at:

    https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-020-00974-8

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    Third Pole Environment
    2021.11.22
    You might know them from horror movies and creature features, but #IceCores actually contribute a LOT to #ClimateScience! How, you ask? Watch to find out What is an ic...

    You might know them from horror movies and creature features, but #IceCores actually contribute a LOT to #ClimateScience! How, you ask? Watch to find out What is an ice core?

    #TPE #ThirdPoleEnvironment #GlobalWarming  #ClimateScience

    [video:TPECN_23_4_video_section3_Nov_18_2021]

     

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    视频
    Third Pole Environment
    2021.11.19
    Long before Disney’s blonde-haired ice queen Elsa, this Ohio couple had said that the cold didn’t bother them anywaya Fifty years ago, Ellen-Mosley Thompson and Lonn...

    Long before Disney’s blonde-haired ice queen Elsa, this Ohio couple had said that the cold didn’t bother them anywaya Fifty years ago, Ellen-Mosley Thompson and Lonnie Thompson pioneered the use of ice cores to study the Earth’s climate.

    Ellen and Lonnie who is also co-chair of the Third Pole Environment, have been building and maintaining an invaluable archive of ice cores—logs of ice drilled from glaciers that hold the story of climate change.

    Find out what inspired Ellen and Lonnie on their journey, here: https://www.pbs.org/.../glacier-ice-samples-act-as...

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    Third Pole Environment
    2021.11.18
    Over 250 million years ago massive volcanic eruptions released tremendous amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and caused the biggest species extinction event...

    Over 250 million years ago massive volcanic eruptions released tremendous amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and caused the biggest species extinction event in history. Nearly 81% of marine life died out during the end-Permian mass extinction (EPME), and it took the Earth another TEN MILLION years to recover.

    But for years scholars have debated if the EPME influenced plants as well. Recently, TPE scientists discovered that the EPME did have a major negative impact on plants. How did they find that out? The answer lies in pollen.

    Read more at: http://www.tpe.ac.cn/research/202102/t20210207_262670.html 

    Original research:

    https://www.sciencedirect.com/.../pii/S001282522030324X#!

    Image: Daniel Kirsch from Pixabay

    #TPE #EndPermianMassExtinction #PollenFossils #PlantEvolution

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    Third Pole Environment
    2021.11.17
    What do rocks on Earth have in common with those on Mars? A number of things, but none as intriguing as their tendency to self-organize into patterns. But what causes ...

    What do rocks on Earth have in common with those on Mars? A number of things, but none as intriguing as their tendency to self-organize into patterns. But what causes this “patterned ground?”

    After numerous laboratory experiments and computer simulations, TPE scientists have hit upon the surprising answer: ice needles. Their research shows that recurring ice growth is leading to ‘phase separation’ among stones in the soil. But, wait a minute—doesn’t phase separation have to do with chemistry? How does it apply to rocks?

    Read more to find out:

     https://tpe.ac.cn/highlights/202111/t20211117_292455.html

    original research available at

     https://www.pnas.org/content/118/40/e2110670118

    Ice needles provided by Quan-Xing Liu

    #TPE #ThirdPole #IceNeedles #PatternedGround #Geomorphology

     #SelfOrganization #PhaseSeparation #MarsRover

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    Third Pole Environment
    2021.12.10
    The rivers flowing from the Third Pole glaciers into the valleys are an important source of water for the people inhabiting these regions. With drastic climate change...

    The rivers flowing from the Third Pole glaciers into the valleys are an important source of water for the people inhabiting these regions.

    With drastic climate changes in the last few decades,TPE researchers have sought to assess the glacier mass loss rates across seven climatically different regions using satellite-based time series images. They show that the glacier ice mass at most sites is persistently decreasing, with highest rates of loss in Central Himalaya and Northern Tien Shan after 2015.

    Find out more here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-24180-y

    #asianglaciers #naturecommunications #glaciericemass

     #CentralHimalaya #TienShan #climatechange

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    Third Pole Environment
    2021.11.15
    Did you know that forests recycle? Forests recycle nutrients and chemicals from their leaves to the ground and then back again into the trees when the leaves fall. In ...

    Did you know that forests recycle? Forests recycle nutrients and chemicals from their leaves to the ground and then back again into the trees when the leaves fall.

    In this way, forests play a key role in slowing down the spread of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to cold or remote regions through air. TPE scientists have figured out how exactly forests recycle POPs and established their importance in the fight against climate change. Read more at:

     http://www.tpe.ac.cn/research/202103/t20210330_266766.html

     jplenio from Pixabay

    #TPE #ThirdPole #ClimateChange #AirPollution

    #PersistentOrganicPollutants

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    Third Pole Environment
    2021.11.12
    Glaciers all over the world are melting, BUT not in the Karakoram range of the Himalayas. Instead, some of them have even gained in mass??. But while this ‘Karakora...

    Glaciers all over the world are melting, BUT not in the Karakoram range of the Himalayas. Instead, some of them have even gained in mass.

    But while this ‘Karakoram Anomaly’ might seem like a blessing, scientists at TPE have shown that it is the opposite case. Rapid increases in glacial mass can actually lead to sudden and severe floods in the future. And yes, this is happening because of climate change.

    Read more on how global warming is causing this phenomenon and its associated flooding risk in South and East Asia:

    http://www.tpe.ac.cn/research/202104/t20210428_267972.html

    #TPE #ThirdPole #KarakoramAnomaly #GlacialOutbursts #GLOFs

    #ClimateChange #GlobalWarming

    Close
    Third Pole Environment
    2021.10.09
    Carbon dioxide emissions are causing global warming, BUT did you know that global warming is also causing carbon dioxide emission? As temperatures rise, carbon dioxid...

    Carbon dioxide emissions are causing global warming, BUT did you know that global warming is also causing carbon dioxide emission?

    As temperatures rise, carbon dioxide trapped in ice, as well as that produced by plants and animals is set to see an overall increase, thereby trapping us in a vicious warming cycle. But scientists at TPE have now found that the increase might be less than they had previously thought. That sounds like good news. But is it?

    Read more to find out:

    http://www.tpe.ac.cn/research/202104/t20210429_268731.html

    #TPE #ThirdPole #ClimateChange #GlobalWarming #Q10

    #ClimateCarbonFeedback

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    Third Pole Environment
    2021.11.08
    Permafrost are vast natural reserves of trapped carbon. The Third Pole contains the largest alpine permafrost cover on Earth. It is not clear how climate warming has a...

    Permafrost are vast natural reserves of trapped carbon. The Third Pole contains the largest alpine permafrost cover on Earth. It is not clear how climate warming has affected the net CO2 balance in this region. While warming could thaw the permafrost and release CO2, it may also increase CO2 fixation in plants, countering the loss from permafrost. In a new study, researchers have now shown that the negative feedback from CO2 fixation is much higher than that from permafrost loss and will remain so until the 2090s.

    Read more here: https://www.pnas.org/content/118/33/e2015283118 

    #PNAS #ChineseAcademyOfSciences #ThirdPole #permafrost

     #carbonsink #carbonfixation #climate #globalwarming

    Xiaodan Wang

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    Third Pole Environment
    2021.11.05
    What could go wrong with rising temperatures in the Third Pole region? Glaciers are melting fast, increasing the risk of floods and droughts. An international research...

    What could go wrong with rising temperatures in the Third Pole region? Glaciers are melting fast, increasing the risk of floods and droughts. An international research team reviewed the changes in streamflow patterns and their effects on downstream populations and infrastructure, hydroelectric projects and irrigated agriculture systems in the Karakoram region.

    The team highlights the hazardous impacts of unpredictable changes in water flow and suggests urgent interventions. More details here:

    https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-020-00124-w 

    #NatureReviewsEarth #Himalaya #Karakoram #glaciers #glacialchange 

    #hydrology

    Close
    Third Pole Environment
    2021.11.04
    The Third Pole(TP) provides freshwater to billions of people living downstream. However, rapid warming of the TP has caused its glaciers to melt away, pointing to a lo...

    The Third Pole(TP) provides freshwater to billions of people living downstream. However, rapid warming of the TP has caused its glaciers to melt away, pointing to a looming water shortage crisis. While short-term climate prediction of TP is important for water management, the predictions are highly uncertain. Now, researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a procedure that can overcome this challenge, making reliable predictions based on signals extracted from large ensemble predictions. Their findings suggest a high predictability of summer rainfall over the TP in multiyear timescales, and a forecast of increase in rainfall over the next decade.

    Learn more about their findings published in Science Advances:

    https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abf9395 

    #TibetanPlateau #glacier #climatechange #summerrainfall

     #ScienceAdvances #ChineseAcademyOfSciences #climateprediction

    Close
    Third Pole Environment
    2021.11.01
    The rapidly changing climate in high-altitude regions, such as the western Tibetan Plateau, poses a major risk of natural hazards such as avalanches. However, the impa...

    The rapidly changing climate in high-altitude regions, such as the western Tibetan Plateau, poses a major risk of natural hazards such as avalanches. However, the impact of giant ice avalanches on downstream lakes and the ecology of the region is not clear.

    What happens after glaciers collapse? Now, TPE scientists have highlighted the short- and long-term effects of avalanches on downstream lakes, providing a reference to evaluate such extreme events in response to melting glaciers.

    Read more here: https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/15/199/2021/

    #China #naturalhazard #avalanches #glaciers #WesternTibetanPlateau

    Close
    Third Pole Environment
    2021.10.29
    Dr. Mosley-Thompson and Dr. Lonnie G. Thompson are named as the 50th and 51st recipient of the prestigious Mendel Medal Dr. Mosley-Thompson has supported the developme...

    Dr. Mosley-Thompson and Dr. Lonnie G. Thompson are named as the 50th and 51st recipient of the prestigious Mendel Medal Dr. Mosley-Thompson has supported the development of the Third Pole Environment (TPE) for a long time. Dr. Lonnie G. Thompson is the co-chair of the TPE program. They will be delivering a lecture on “Rapidly Changing Climate and Retreating Glaciers: Past, Present, and Future Societal Impacts,” at the award function on Friday, October 29, 2021, at 2 p.m., in the Villanova Room of the University’s Connelly Center. The event will be open to all

    Find out more here: https://www1.villanova.edu/.../50th-51st-mendal-mendal...

    #VillanovaUniversity #MendelMedal #OhioStateUniversity

    #climatechange #glaciers #ClimateResearch #paleoclimatology

    Close
    Third Pole Environment
    2021.10.28
    How did Third Pole come into form? The Lunpola Basin in central Tibet is ideal to search for answers. Recent fossils deposited 25.5 million years ago suggest that the ...

    How did Third Pole come into form? The Lunpola Basin in central Tibet is ideal to search for answers. Recent fossils deposited 25.5 million years ago suggest that the plateau may have been uplifted more recently than estimated. TPE scientists have now revealed revised elevation estimates that can reshape the growth pattern of the Tibetan Plateau, Asian atmospheric circulation, surface processes, and biotic evolution.

    More details here: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aba7298 

    #ScienceAdvances #China #centralTibet #TibetanPlateau #uplift

     #LunpolaBasin

    Close
    Third Pole Environment
    2021.10.27
    Temperatures are rising, glaciers are melting – we’ve all heard of the effects of #GlobalWarming. But have you ever wondered what exactly a glacier is? Watch this ep...

    Temperatures are rising, glaciers are melting – we’ve all heard of the effects of #GlobalWarming. But have you ever wondered what exactly a glacier is? Watch this episode of #TPE Q&A to find out

    #TPE #ThirdPoleEnvironment #ClimateChange #ClimateScience 

    #glacier

     

    [video:what is a glacier]

     

    Close
    视频
    Third Pole Environment
    2021.10.26
    Glaciers situated in the mountains of Asia constitute the second largest ice reserve after the Polar Regions, and are a major source of freshwater to 15 main rivers. T...

    Glaciers situated in the mountains of Asia constitute the second largest ice reserve after the Polar Regions, and are a major source of freshwater to 15 main rivers. The rapidly rising temperature has however caused the ice to melt faster, that can have a major impact on the temperature, rainfall and water supply in the region. In a new study published in Water Resourced Research, researchers have used a high resolution cryospheric-hydrological model to predict the impact of projected climatic changes on the melting of glaciers. Their findings suggest that an earlier onset of melting will change the timing and magnitude of water availability in the future; adaptation to address food and energy security, biodiversity and livelihood dependent on these water sources, is therefore necessary. Know more here:

    https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/.../2020WR029266

    #WaterResourcedResearch #climatechange #glaciers #Asia 

    #mountains #hydrology

    Close
    Third Pole Environment
    2021.10.25
    The third pole (TP) region in the Tibetan plateau constitutes the largest area covered in ice after the polar regions. The third pole (TPE) environment program was ini...

    The third pole (TP) region in the Tibetan plateau constitutes the largest area covered in ice after the polar regions. The third pole (TPE) environment program was initiated to facilitate international research activities to understand the unique biogeography and evolution of the region. Furthermore, TPE aims to assess the impact of the changing climate on the glaciers in the TP region and on the local community life, infrastructure and biodiversity. Some of the projects undertaken in the program include a glacial river run-off and flood monitoring system, evaluation of glacier collapse events in the Karakoram region and their impact on downstream lakes, flood monitoring, remote sensing and analysis of ice cores for understanding the effect of geological evolution on the changing climate. Find out more about the TPE program and how it can help a sustainable adaptation to the changing environment here:

     

    http://www.tpe.ac.cn/webindex/ 

    #thirdpole #TibetanPlateau #TPE #glaciers #biogeography

     #Karakoram

    Close
    Third Pole Environment
    2021.10.27
    Glaciers situated in the mountains of Asia constitute the second largest ice reserve after the Polar Regions, and are a major source of freshwater to 15 main rivers. T...

    Glaciers situated in the mountains of Asia constitute the second largest ice reserve after the Polar Regions, and are a major source of freshwater to 15 main rivers. The rapidly rising temperature has however caused the ice to melt faster, that can have a major impact on the temperature, rainfall and water supply in the region. In a new study published in Water Resourced Research, researchers have used a high resolution cryospheric-hydrological model to predict the impact of projected climatic changes on the melting of glaciers. Their findings suggest that an earlier onset of melting will change the timing and magnitude of water availability in the future; adaptation to address food and energy security, biodiversity and livelihood dependent on these water sources, is therefore necessary. Know more here:

    https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/.../2020WR029266

    #WaterResourcedResearch #climatechange #glaciers #Asia

    #mountains #hydrology


    Close

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