edd/ 2011/ fnva tibetan plateau – permafrost cover - tibet 1 environment and development desk...
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EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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Environment and Development DeskDepartment of Information and International Relations
Central Tibetan Administration, Dharamsala
Tenzin NORBU
RIVER WATERS: PERSPECTIVE AND CHALLENGE FOR ASIA18 -20 November, 2011
India International Center, New Delhi
EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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Courtesy: NASA/ D.Miller
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EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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Map courtesy: T. Wangyal Shawa, 2009
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Permafrost Cover
Approximately > 1.4 Million Sq. Km on Permafrost, Remaining on Seasonally Frozen soils
EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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Seasonally Frozen Grounds
EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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Temperature rise in Lhasa
-5
0
5
10
15
20
Jan
Feb Mar
AprilM
ayJu
neJu
lyAug
Sep OctNov
Dec
Deg
ree
Cel
siu
s
1980
2008Manfred and Peng, (1988)
www.msnweather.com
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RISING TEMPERATURE
• Lhasa Aprox. 0.4o C / Decade
• World Average (IPCC) 0.03/ Decade
EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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Permafrost/ Frozen grounds
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EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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Permafrost Degradation
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EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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•Permafrost degradation change in vegetative mat Desertification•Species selection loss of native species
Impacts:
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EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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Pictures courtesy: Losang
Alpine Wetlands --> Alpine grasslands / Meadows :Total SOC storage (1 meter soil) > 7400 Million tons
of C
EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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Pictures courtesy: Losang
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EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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[‘The original sliding was caused by excavation of the slope toe in 1990 during the repairing of the Qinghai-Tibet Highway. ..”]
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EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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Permafrost Degradation
Surface Soil Temperature shift: 150 -230 days/ year
EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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Courtesy: Wu et al, 2003, Sc in China, Vol 46 No 2
The temperature of soil under asphalt pavement is much higherthan that under the normal condition
Natural Surface
Asphalt pavement
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EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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Retrogressive Thermal Slumping
Permafrost Degradation
EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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Surface degradation associated with thaw of ice-rich permafrost
SLH/ QTH
EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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Source: NAN Zhuotong et al, 2005
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EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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Threats to Infrastructure projects
Positive Feedback
CO2 & CH4
Consequences:
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EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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Desertification
Consequences:
Lowering water tables
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EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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Climate Warming: Drying the head regions of Major Rivers
Eastern Tibet: Head Region of the Machu (Yellow River)
Consequences:
EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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How to restore the degrading permafrost?
Long term field observations & research stations
Interaction between atmospheric and land surfaces
Restore the ancestral pastoral nomadic culture - mobility
Managed grazing of the grasslands
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EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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Pictures courtesy: Wild Yak
Winter Pastures
EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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TNomads settlement Sershul in Kham (2010)
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Pictures courtesy: EDD/ DIIR
EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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G. Warming and Grazing cancel each other – No effect on ANPP (Above Ground Net Pr. Production)….Julia et al, 2007
Managed Grazing/ Herd size: Prolongs/ extends the growing season, Improves plant C:N ratio
MOUNTAIN CLOSURE FENCED GRASSLAND IN DAMSHUNG
SEDENTARIZATION: FENCED WINTER PASTURE IN AMDO
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EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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Drichu/ Yangtse
Machu/ Yellow
Yarlung Tsangpo/ Brahmaputra
Zachu/ Mekong
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EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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THANK YOU
For more information, please visit us at:www.tibet.net
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EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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"herders should not, as a result of the measures
adopted under the tuimu huancao policy, be put in a situation where they have no other options than to
sell their herd and resettle."
Mr. Olivier De Schutter
UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food15 - 23 December 2010
EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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[‘The QTH “opened up” the country for more concentration of people in settlements resulting in more infrastructures, fostered the construction of sideroads, encouraged an explosion in sheep, goat, cattle and yak raising …..’]
The impacts of the Golmud to Lhasa Oil ProductsPipeline (GLOPP)
EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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•Largest radiation values in China•Frequent thawing and freezing states
EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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[‘The QTH “opened up” the country for more concentration of people in settlements resulting in more infrastructures, fostered the construction of side roads, encouraged an explosion in sheep, goat, cattle and yak raising..]
EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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The impacts of the Golmud to Lhasa Oil ProductsPipeline (GLOPP)
EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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“Beilu He Permafrost Research Station, about midway along the QTEC, showing ventilated space between gravel fill and floor of the building”
LESSON LEARNED
EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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The impacts of the Qinghai–Tibet Railway (QTR)
EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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• Largest radiation values in China• Frequent thawing and freezing states
EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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EDD/ 2011/ FNVA
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Unreasonable economic activities are the main factor for causing the desertification !!!