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Weather Study in Tibet Significant
Senior Chinese meteorologists urged the central government to intensify its meteorological research and weather forecast-services in the Tibet Autonomous Region to spark progress in social and economic development.
Covering more than 1.2 million square kilometres of area -- one-eighth of China's total territory -- with an average elevation of over 4,000 metres in the upstream of China's weather system, Tibet's meteorological research has afar-reaching impact.
In the latest reports released Wednesday by China Meteorological Administration (CMA), the meteorologists said central government should invest greatly in the construction of a weather station network in the mountainous autonomous region.
Headed by Li Zechun, academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, they also called for money to be ploughed into infrastructure -- including electricity supply, communication facilities and transportation -- as part of efforts to increase the development of Western China.
"Located on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, weather readings and information taken in Tibet are of vital importance for China,'' they said.
"They accelerate the modernization of the country's meteorological infrastructure and make further contributions to global weather observation and research on climate changes.''
They hope more advanced weather observation and climate monitoring facilities, such as computer-based weather radar systems, can be put into operation in Tibet in order to upgrade outdated ones.
They made it clear that a weather-observation and monitoring network using satellite-based technology, weather radars and conventional observation means is a must if Tibet is to correct its current lack of weather and climate data.
In particular, it will collect data on weather-related disasters, including heavy rainfall, blizzards and hailstorms.
The network would allow scientists to predict more accurately any severe weather patterns and climate changes in areas downstream Tibet, particularly along the Yangtze River.
While calling for more young Tibetan weathermen to be trained, the senior meteorologists also want more Tibetan professionals to be invited to participate in key State-run meteorological research projects.
And they urged the State to set up an open atmospheric scientific laboratory on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to attract domestic and foreign experts in a bid to boost local meteorological research.
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