I. About the station
South-East Tibetan plateau Station for integrated observation and research of alpine environment (hereinafter referred to as SETS, 94°44'E, 29°46'N, and 3,326 m a.s.l) is located in the mountain valley on the western side of National Highway 318, about 6 km north of Lulang Township, Nyingchi County, Tibet Autonomous Region. The total area it covers amounts to 30 mu (2 hectares). SETS is about 75 km from the Bayi Town, the District office of Nyingchi, about 480 km from Lhasa, Capital of Tibet Autonomous Region, and about 120 km from Nyingchi airport.
Aerial view of SETS
The SETS layout comprises three components: the research office and living quarters, the observation field, and adjacent observation sites. The scientific research office and living quarters are situated within the station, encompassing a quarter of the station's land. The atmospheric physics and atmospheric environment observation field is located within the station, occupying three-quarters of its land. Adjacent observation sites are positioned near Sejila Mountain Pass and Ranwu Lake. After the completion of the first phase construction in 2006 and the completion of the second phase expansion in 2010, the station now has 2,100 square meters of buildings, including a 1,450 square meters apartment building (equipped with 39 standard twin-bedded rooms with independent bathrooms), a 430 square meters conference and dining building (accommodating 80 people respectively), a 220 square meters office and experimental complex building. In terms of auxiliary facilities, there is a 110 m × 180 m concrete and fence enclosure, 1,350 square meters roads in the station, a set of 6 m3 towerless water supply equipment, three garages and a pump house, and a 20-year dredging-free sewage treatment system. In terms of transportation, SETS is equipped with a Toyota Land Cruiser 200 off-road vehicle, a Mitsubishi off-road vehicle, and a Great Wall pick-up minivan. The station area has been connected to 20 KW rural hydropower stations, equipped with fixed telephones (wireless). Additionally, it offers a 2 M broadband Internet connection and satellite signals for television viewing. At present, the SETS can accommodate less than 80 people to carry out scientific research and hold small conferences at the same time.
At present, NASDE has a total of 15 scientific and technical personnel, including nine research fellows (including six senior research fellows, two intermediate research fellows and one junior research fellow), six operation supporting personnel, and three long-term visiting research fellows. Since the establishment of NASDE, a total of 12 individuals have successfully completed their doctoral theses, while another 10 individuals have accomplished their master's theses at the station. Furthermore, there are seven PhD candidates and six master's students working on their respective thesis projects. By the end of 2013, the NASDE had applied for 44 scientific research projects, with a total funding amount exceeding CNY 36 million, and published a total of 211 academic papers, including 145 SCI papers.
II. Research objectives
The overall scientific objective of the SETS is to provide high-quality and comprehensive fundamental data for studying the mountain vertical zones and their environmental effects in the context of global changes by monitoring the transmission process of the hydrothermal components in the mountainous areas and their impact on the surface landscape, so as to provide a scientific basis for the ecology and environmental construction and economic and social development of the local area.
III. Observation subjects
Focusing on the overall scientific objective, the SETS is currently carrying out six major observational research directions:
(I) Atmospheric physics: Atmospheric boundary layer parameters of SETS headquarters (Lulang)
Observation site: The 20-meter-high atmospheric boundary layer tower at the station headquarters
Observation subjects: Wind direction/velocity, air temperature, and relative humidity (1.30 m, 4.94 m, 9.95 m, and 18 m above ground); ground precipitation (rain barrel), air pressure, air temperature (measured with an infrared thermometer), CO2/water vapor flux (using a LI7500 CO2/H2O analyzer), wind speed/direction (using a CSAT3 ultrasonic anemometer), and four-component radiation; soil temperature and humidity (4 cm, 10 cm, 20 cm, 60 cm, and 100 cm underground); soil heat flux (4 cm, 10 cm, and 20 cm underground).
Observation time: Throughout the year
Frequency of observations: hourly, where precipitation is the amount of precipitation per occurrence
Atmospheric boundary layer tower
(II) Atmospheric environment: Atmospheric composition of the SETS headquarters (Lulang)
Observation site: SETS headquarters
Observation subjects: (1) Sampling and analyzing persistent organic pollutants (PoPs) and total suspended particulates (TSP) using an active inhalation sampler; (2) Monitoring changes in atmospheric ozone (O3) using an ozone analyzer; (3) Sampling of precipitation isotopes in the SETS headquarters; (4) Sampling and analyzing nitrogen deposition in forests at the sample plots within the SETS headquarters.
Observation time: Throughout the year
Observation frequency: The PoPs and TSP samples are collected on a weekly basis, with the results being centrally analyzed quarterly. Atmospheric ozone is sampled and measured daily. Precipitation isotopes are collected for each precipitation sample, and stable isotope levels are annually measured centrally for each sample. Nitrogen deposition in forests is sampled every two weeks during the growing season (from May to September), with the results being analyzed annually.
PoPs sample collection and ozone detection
(III) Glacier dynamics: meteorological parameters and mass balance
Observation sites: Ranwu's Parlung No.4 Glacier, Bome-Mutuo 24K Glacier and Zayul's Azar glacier
Observation subjects: Glacier surface micrometeorology (wind, temperature, humidity, pressure, and total radiation), mass balance.
Observation time: Throughout the year
Observation frequency: For micrometeorology parameters: Hourly; for mass balance: every six months
Micrometeorology monitoring of glacier ice surface
(IV) Lake dynamics: water quality change and hydrologic budget
Observation sites: Ranwu Lake, Laigu Glacial Lake, and Midui Glacial Lake
Observation subjects: The water level at the exit/entry position and the physical and chemical properties of water quality profiles at deep-water locations (including depth, water temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, and transparency) in Ranwu Lake; meteorological parameters (such as wind speed, temperature, humidity, pressure, solid and liquid precipitation levels, four-component radiation measurements, and soil temperature and humidity) in Ranwu Lake; as well as the water level and temperature of Laigu and Midui Glacial Lakes.
Observation time: Throughout the year; For water level and water temperature: Only in non-freezing period
Observation frequency: For water level, water temperature, and meteorological parameters: Hourly; for water quality profile: Monthly
Physical and chemical monitoring of lake
(V) River hydrology: Water level, temperature, and flow
Observation site: Main inflowing rivers and lake outlet of the Ranwu Lake, the Lulang River, Kyabje Shi Naytso
Observation subjects: Water level, temperature, and flow
Observation time: Non-freezing period every year
Observation frequency: For water level and water temperature: Hourly; for the flow rate: 24 hours of continuous measurement every 15 days
Detection of river hydrological parameters
(VI) Ecosystem:
Observation site: SETS headquarters, Sejila Mountain Pass
Observation subjects: Phenology (revival and flowering time, air pollen composition and content), meteorological parameters (wind speed, temperature, humidity, pressure, soil temperature and humidity, and total radiation inside and outside the timberline), aboveground biomass of forest/grassland, radial increment of trees
Observation time: For phenology and meteorological parameters: Throughout the year; for above-ground biomass, radial increment: The growing season
Observation frequency: For phenology and radial increment: weekly; for meteorological parameters: Hourly; For above-ground biomass: Throughout the year; radial increment
Monitoring of deciduous biomass and tree growth
IV. Contact information
Academic director: Yao Tandong
Station director: Wu Guangjian
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