On the morning of June 23, Lanzhou University expedition team set out for the second scientific investigation into Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in front of Yifu Building, Chengguan Campus. The researchers will leave for investigation areas after the launching ceremony, and the comprehensive scientific investigation will last one month.
The preparations for the major research program, the second scientific comprehensive investigation into Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, were launched in 2017 and were established in early 2019, and the scientific investigation will last five years. The research focuses on water, ecology, and human activities, and concentrates on solving the problems of resources and environmental carrying capacity, disaster risk, and ecological development pathway of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Lanzhou University is one of the key members for this scientific investigation.
According to the 2019 scientific investigation project, the Taklimakan Desert, the Tibet Ali area and the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin are the research regions of this investigation, which will last from June 23 to August 3. Lanzhou University has established the “Scientific Research Team Studying Dust Aerosols Transmission on the North Side of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau”. Prof. Jianping Huang and Prof. Lei Zhang from the College of Atmospheric Sciences are the captains. The team will carry a series of international advanced observation instruments including 6 multi-band hyperspectral laser radars developed independently and go to the Ali area and the Taklimakan Desert to carry out the first phase of the research. Meanwhile, the “Scientific Research Team Studying Surface and Snow Ice Dust Characteristics of the upper-middle reaches of Yarlung Zangbo River” is established, and Prof. Dunsheng Xia and Prof. Shengli Yang from the College of Earth and Environmental Sciences are the captains. They will also go to investigation areas to conduct research and sampling.
In the scientific investigation, they will explore the spatiotemporal evolution history, control factors, physical and chemical characteristics, etc. of dust activity on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau through a comprehensive scientific investigation on the surface, snow-ice dust and atmospheric dust aerosols of several key areas of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The scientific issues have important theoretical significance and application value for response to climate change and environmental protection on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Prof. Chunhua Yan, president of Lanzhou University, awarded the flag to the expedition team. He pointed out that this scientific investigation is not only a national strategy but also an important measure for the “Double First-Class” construction of Lanzhou University. We must seize the historical opportunity from the second Qinghai-Tibet Plateau scientific research to further strengthen the teaching and research teams and create innovative research platforms in the related disciplines, such as atmospheric science, geography, geology and ecology, etc.
