The Third Pole, which is centered on the Tibetan Plateau, is known for its marvelous mountains, glassy lakes, mind-blowing starlit sky, and distinctive cultures. As the roof of the world, it possesses a charm irresistible to adventurous hearts and curious minds worldwide. However, its breathtaking beauty and global fame come at a price. Strong tectonic activity, complex geomorphology, a changing climate, and more human presence at the Third Pole have also made the region extremely vulnerable to natural hazards [1].
Earthquakes, debris flows, glacial lake outbursts, torrential floods, landslides, avalanches, snowstorms, and drought – almost all the natural hazards one can name have occurred at the Third Pole.
The uplift of Third Pole makes tectonic activity extremely prevalent in the region, which gives rise to earthquakes along the fault zones, as well as landslides and floods along the deeply incised valleys. Uneven distribution of water vapor at the Third Pole as a result of its climate patterns [2] can trigger large-scale floods and droughts at the same time. The steep slope of Third Pole mountains can also easily turn glacial melting into glacial lake outbursts and debris flows, and turn torrential rain into landslides. Engineering projects can also destabilize the already fragile balance at the Third Pole [1].
Climate change is also not helping the situation. The Third Pole is getting warmer and generally moister, which enhances hydrological cycling in the region and makes water/ice-related disasters more likely. In the future, scientists expect hazards to occur more often and in more forms and have greater chain effects at the Third Pole. The growing population and economy are also adding to the elevated risk of disasters by altering exposure and vulnerability [3].
To fulfill its commitment to local communities, TPE has given priority to hazard-related scientific services. The water cycle must be traced in three dimensions — as liquid water, ice and water vapour, on the ground and in the air — and changes monitored. Water vapor high upper in the air, a previously unrecorded component on the continuous basis, is now being traced closely over the TP with in-situ continuing measurements at stations and tethered balloons intermittently that can soar above 7003 meters[4].
TPE has also set up ice collapse monitoring stations following massive ice collapses that occurred on July 17 and Sept. 21, 2016 in the western Third Pole area (i.e., the Aru ice collapses) and on Oct. 17 and Oct. 29, 2018 in the southeastern Third Pole area (i.e., the Sedongpu ice collapses). The Aru ice collapses in 2016 caused nine human casualties and the loss of hundreds of livestock, while the Sedongpu collapses in 2018 blocked the Yarlung Zambo River. The early warning system set up by TPE scientists in 2019 has since sounded alerts for Sedongpu ice collapses.
Prof. CUI Peng, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that future Third Pole research should prioritize such topics as: 1) changes in the factors causing hazards and regional patterns related to hazard development; 2) the dynamic processes and mechanisms of natural calamities; 3) the evolution of catastrophes caused by the coupling of climate change and earthquakes; 4) the methodology of assessment and management of disaster risk ; and 5) monitoring and prevention technology suitable for alpine environments.
Amid all these uncertainties, however, one thing is certain: TPE scientists will continue to study the causes and development of natural hazards, with a view to minimizing local and global losses.
1.Cui, P., et al., Natural Hazards in Tibetan Plateau and Key Issue for Feature Research. Bulletin of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2017. 32(9): p. 985-992.
2.Yao, T.D., et al., A Review of Climatic Controls on Delta O-18 In Precipitation Over The Tibetan Plateau： Observation and Simulations Reviews of Geophysics, 2013. 51(4).
3.Chen, D., et al., Assessment of past, present and future environmental changes on the Tibetan Plateau. Chinese Science Bulletin, 2015. 60(32): p. 3025-3035.
4.Gao, J., et al., Collapsing glaciers threaten Asia's water supplies. Nature, 2019. 565(7737): p. 19-21.
The Third Pole, which is centered on the Tibetan Plateau, is known for its marvelous mountains, glassy lakes, mind-blowing starlit sky, and distinctive cultures. As the roof of the world, it possesses a charm irresistible to adventurous hearts and curious minds worldwide. However, its breathtaking beauty and global fame come at a price. Strong tectonic activity, complex geomorphology, a changing climate, and more human presence at the Third Pole have also made the region extremely vulnerable to natural hazards [1].
Earthquakes, debris flows, glacial lake outbursts, torrential floods, landslides, avalanches, snowstorms, and drought – almost all the natural hazards one can name have occurred at the Third Pole.
The uplift of Third Pole makes tectonic activity extremely prevalent in the region, which gives rise to earthquakes along the fault zones, as well as landslides and floods along the deeply incised valleys. Uneven distribution of water vapor at the Third Pole as a result of its climate patterns [2] can trigger large-scale floods and droughts at the same time. The steep slope of Third Pole mountains can also easily turn glacial melting into glacial lake outbursts and debris flows, and turn torrential rain into landslides. Engineering projects can also destabilize the already fragile balance at the Third Pole [1].
Climate change is also not helping the situation. The Third Pole is getting warmer and generally moister, which enhances hydrological cycling in the region and makes water/ice-related disasters more likely. In the future, scientists expect hazards to occur more often and in more forms and have greater chain effects at the Third Pole. The growing population and economy are also adding to the elevated risk of disasters by altering exposure and vulnerability [3].
To fulfill its commitment to local communities, TPE has given priority to hazard-related scientific services. The water cycle must be traced in three dimensions — as liquid water, ice and water vapour, on the ground and in the air — and changes monitored. Water vapor high upper in the air, a previously unrecorded component on the continuous basis, is now being traced closely over the TP with in-situ continuing measurements at stations and tethered balloons intermittently that can soar above 7003 meters[4].
TPE has also set up ice collapse monitoring stations following massive ice collapses that occurred on July 17 and Sept. 21, 2016 in the western Third Pole area (i.e., the Aru ice collapses) and on Oct. 17 and Oct. 29, 2018 in the southeastern Third Pole area (i.e., the Sedongpu ice collapses). The Aru ice collapses in 2016 caused nine human casualties and the loss of hundreds of livestock, while the Sedongpu collapses in 2018 blocked the Yarlung Zambo River. The early warning system set up by TPE scientists in 2019 has since sounded alerts for Sedongpu ice collapses.
Prof. CUI Peng, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that future Third Pole research should prioritize such topics as: 1) changes in the factors causing hazards and regional patterns related to hazard development; 2) the dynamic processes and mechanisms of natural calamities; 3) the evolution of catastrophes caused by the coupling of climate change and earthquakes; 4) the methodology of assessment and management of disaster risk ; and 5) monitoring and prevention technology suitable for alpine environments.
Amid all these uncertainties, however, one thing is certain: TPE scientists will continue to study the causes and development of natural hazards, with a view to minimizing local and global losses.
1.Cui, P., et al., Natural Hazards in Tibetan Plateau and Key Issue for Feature Research. Bulletin of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2017. 32(9): p. 985-992.
2.Yao, T.D., et al., A Review of Climatic Controls on Delta O-18 In Precipitation Over The Tibetan Plateau： Observation and Simulations Reviews of Geophysics, 2013. 51(4).
3.Chen, D., et al., Assessment of past, present and future environmental changes on the Tibetan Plateau. Chinese Science Bulletin, 2015. 60(32): p. 3025-3035.
4.Gao, J., et al., Collapsing glaciers threaten Asia's water supplies. Nature, 2019. 565(7737): p. 19-21.
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CONTACT
International Program Office,
Third Pole Environment(TPE)
Building 3,No.16 Lincui Road,Chaoyang District，Beijing, China
