China launches new scientific expedition in Yangtze headwaters-Xinhua

China launches new scientific expedition in Yangtze headwaters

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia

2022-07-25 00:55:15

Fan Yue (front) and Dong Shiqi, members of a scientific expedition team, operate ground penetrating radar in the headwater region of the Lancang River in Zadoi County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, July 24, 2022. Chinese scientists launched an expedition on Sunday in the headwater regions of the Yangtze and Lancang rivers in northwest China's Qinghai Province, to investigate the regions' water resources and ecological environment.

The expedition will conduct scientific investigations into the water resources, river hydrology, water ecology, glaciers, soil erosion and permafrost of the regions, among other things, according to the Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute (CRSRI) of the Changjiang Water Resources Commission, which is leading the expedition. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

XINING, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists launched an expedition on Sunday in the headwater regions of the Yangtze and Lancang rivers in northwest China's Qinghai Province, to investigate the regions' water resources and ecological environment.

The expedition will conduct scientific investigations into the water resources, river hydrology, water ecology, glaciers, soil erosion and permafrost of the regions, among other things, according to the Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute (CRSRI) of the Changjiang Water Resources Commission, which is leading the expedition.

Glacier investigation is one of the key missions of the expedition. Based on previous remote-sensing monitoring, the scientists will use technologies including ground-penetrating radar to measure glacier thickness and calculate ice volume, according to CRSRI.

This expedition will also focus on observing the carbon stock of wetlands in the headwaters of the Yangtze River.

As an important part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau ecosystem, the headwater regions of the Yangtze and Lancang rivers have a significant impact on maintaining the security of water resources, biodiversity protection and ecosystem security.

It will further the understanding of the current state of the ecological environment in the headwater regions of the two rivers, and will provide basic data for research projects including the protection of the Yangtze River and the construction of Sanjiangyuan National Park, said CRSRI's chief engineer Xu Ping.

Members of a scientific expedition team collect aquatic life samples from the headwater region of the Lancang River in Zadoi County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, July 24, 2022. Chinese scientists launched an expedition on Sunday in the headwater regions of the Yangtze and Lancang rivers in northwest China's Qinghai Province, to investigate the regions' water resources and ecological environment.

The expedition will conduct scientific investigations into the water resources, river hydrology, water ecology, glaciers, soil erosion and permafrost of the regions, among other things, according to the Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute (CRSRI) of the Changjiang Water Resources Commission, which is leading the expedition. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Members of a scientific expedition team collect aquatic life samples from the headwater region of the Lancang River in Zadoi County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, July 24, 2022. Chinese scientists launched an expedition on Sunday in the headwater regions of the Yangtze and Lancang rivers in northwest China's Qinghai Province, to investigate the regions' water resources and ecological environment.

The expedition will conduct scientific investigations into the water resources, river hydrology, water ecology, glaciers, soil erosion and permafrost of the regions, among other things, according to the Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute (CRSRI) of the Changjiang Water Resources Commission, which is leading the expedition. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Fan Yue (R) and Dong Shiqi, members of a scientific expedition team, test water quality in the headwater region of the Lancang River in northwest China's Qinghai Province, July 24, 2022. Chinese scientists launched an expedition on Sunday in the headwater regions of the Yangtze and Lancang rivers in northwest China's Qinghai Province, to investigate the regions' water resources and ecological environment.

The expedition will conduct scientific investigations into the water resources, river hydrology, water ecology, glaciers, soil erosion and permafrost of the regions, among other things, according to the Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute (CRSRI) of the Changjiang Water Resources Commission, which is leading the expedition. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Liu Han (R), a member of a scientific expedition team, collects fish samples from Zaqu River in the headwater region of the Lancang River in northwest China's Qinghai Province, July 24, 2022. Chinese scientists launched an expedition on Sunday in the headwater regions of the Yangtze and Lancang rivers in northwest China's Qinghai Province, to investigate the regions' water resources and ecological environment.

The expedition will conduct scientific investigations into the water resources, river hydrology, water ecology, glaciers, soil erosion and permafrost of the regions, among other things, according to the Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute (CRSRI) of the Changjiang Water Resources Commission, which is leading the expedition. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Li Ludan (L) and Liu Han, members of a scientific expedition team, conduct scientific research at Zaqu River in the headwater region of the Lancang River in northwest China's Qinghai Province, July 24, 2022. Chinese scientists launched an expedition on Sunday in the headwater regions of the Yangtze and Lancang rivers in northwest China's Qinghai Province, to investigate the regions' water resources and ecological environment.

The expedition will conduct scientific investigations into the water resources, river hydrology, water ecology, glaciers, soil erosion and permafrost of the regions, among other things, according to the Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute (CRSRI) of the Changjiang Water Resources Commission, which is leading the expedition. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Li Ludan, a member of a scientific expedition team, collects zooplankton samples from Zaqu River in the headwater region of the Lancang River in northwest China's Qinghai Province, July 24, 2022. Chinese scientists launched an expedition on Sunday in the headwater regions of the Yangtze and Lancang rivers in northwest China's Qinghai Province, to investigate the regions' water resources and ecological environment.

The expedition will conduct scientific investigations into the water resources, river hydrology, water ecology, glaciers, soil erosion and permafrost of the regions, among other things, according to the Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute (CRSRI) of the Changjiang Water Resources Commission, which is leading the expedition. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Liu Han, a member of a scientific expedition team, collects fish samples from Zaqu River in the headwater region of the Lancang River in northwest China's Qinghai Province, July 24, 2022. Chinese scientists launched an expedition on Sunday in the headwater regions of the Yangtze and Lancang rivers in northwest China's Qinghai Province, to investigate the regions' water resources and ecological environment.

The expedition will conduct scientific investigations into the water resources, river hydrology, water ecology, glaciers, soil erosion and permafrost of the regions, among other things, according to the Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute (CRSRI) of the Changjiang Water Resources Commission, which is leading the expedition. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Li Ludan (R) and Liu Han, members of a scientific expedition team, conduct benthonic animal samples from Zaqu River in the headwater region of the Lancang River in northwest China's Qinghai Province, July 24, 2022. Chinese scientists launched an expedition on Sunday in the headwater regions of the Yangtze and Lancang rivers in northwest China's Qinghai Province, to investigate the regions' water resources and ecological environment.

The expedition will conduct scientific investigations into the water resources, river hydrology, water ecology, glaciers, soil erosion and permafrost of the regions, among other things, according to the Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute (CRSRI) of the Changjiang Water Resources Commission, which is leading the expedition. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Members of a scientific expedition team walk in the headwater region of the Lancang River in Zadoi County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, July 24, 2022. Chinese scientists launched an expedition on Sunday in the headwater regions of the Yangtze and Lancang rivers in northwest China's Qinghai Province, to investigate the regions' water resources and ecological environment.

The expedition will conduct scientific investigations into the water resources, river hydrology, water ecology, glaciers, soil erosion and permafrost of the regions, among other things, according to the Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute (CRSRI) of the Changjiang Water Resources Commission, which is leading the expedition. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Li Ludan (L), a member of a scientific expedition team, tests water quality of Zaqu River in the headwater region of the Lancang River in northwest China's Qinghai Province, July 24, 2022. Chinese scientists launched an expedition on Sunday in the headwater regions of the Yangtze and Lancang rivers in northwest China's Qinghai Province, to investigate the regions' water resources and ecological environment.

The expedition will conduct scientific investigations into the water resources, river hydrology, water ecology, glaciers, soil erosion and permafrost of the regions, among other things, according to the Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute (CRSRI) of the Changjiang Water Resources Commission, which is leading the expedition. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)