I. About the station
Ngari Station for Desert Environment Observation and Research (hereinafter referred to as NASDE) was established in 2008. The station (79.70°E, 33.39°N, 4,270 m a.s.l) is located in the Magaer Grassland on south side of the National Highway 219; about 3 km west of Ritu County, Ngari, Tibet Autonomous Region and it is about 10 km away from the Banggong Co Lake. It covers a total area of 30 mu (2 hectares). The observation station is about 120 km from the Seng-ge Kambab Town, the District office of Ngari, and about 1,600 km from Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region.
Location of NASDE and distribution of observation layout
The NASDE layout comprises the headquarters' scientific research office and living quarters, along with fixed observation points radiating to the Ngari region. NASDE's headquarters consists of a living area and an observation area. The observation area includes routine meteorological observations, turbulence and flux observations, atmospheric chemistry observations, sporopollen observations, and atmospheric precipitation isotope observations. The living area includes 120 square meters of portable dwellings, 170 square meters of fixed working rooms (under construction), and greenhouses. NASDE is equipped with a Toyota off-road vehicle and a pick-up vehicle. The NASDE is equipped with a 4 kilowatt photovoltaic power station, which has been integrated into the local power grid. Additionally, it offers a 50M broadband Internet connection and satellite signals for television viewing. The fixed-point observation of the NASDE also includes water level observations of nearby Maga Zangbu and Banggong Co Lake, as well as ecological environment observation. The observation work of the NASDE radiates to the surrounding areas, including the western terminus of the Himalayas, the Western Kunlun Mountains, the Karakorum Mountains, and the high-altitude areas in Ngari. Semi-localized long-term observation stations have been established for monitoring glacier changes, alpine meteorology, as well as water level observations of rivers and lakes and river runoff.
Currently, NASDE has a total of 24 scientific and technical staff, comprising 18 researchers (including 13 research fellows and 5 associate research fellows) as well as 6 personnel providing business support. It has 22 sets of field observation instruments, including water vapor exchange in the ground-air boundary layer, meteorological observation, flow velocity and water level measurement, as well as water quality measurement, with a total value of more than CNY 2 million. During the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan" period, one key researcher has been awarded the National Natural Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars, and two key researchers have been awarded the National Natural Science Foundation for Outstanding Young Scholars. The station has applied 15 scientific research projects, received funding of CNY 50 million, and published a total of more than 40 SCI papers, including those in Scientific Reports and other SCI papers. Eight people in the station have completed their doctoral theses, and two postdocs, ten PhDs and five masters in the station are currently working on their theses.
The staff of NASDE includes one Station director, one Deputy station director, two observation supervisors and three other temporary staff. There are 11 projects applied by the station.
II. Research objectives
The overall scientific objectives of the NASDE are to monitor the process of climate, hydrological, atmospheric and ecological changes in the Western Tibetan Plateau, reveal the process of interaction between the Indian monsoon and the westerly, predict the future changes in the climate and ecological environment, and provide scientific supports for global change research as well as socio-economic development and ecological environment security within the Western Tibetan Plateau.
III. Observation subjects
(I) Observation of atmospheric physical parameters
Observation site: The 10-meter-high atmospheric boundary layer tower and surface automatic weather station at station headquarters
Observation subjects: Wind direction/velocity, air temperature, and humidity (1.5 m and 2.8 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 (0 cm, 20 cm, 50 cm, 100 cm, and 200 cm underground).
Observation time: Throughout the year
Observation frequency: every half hour, in which artificial precipitation and evaporation are once a day
Turbulence observation tower at the NASDE
(II) Observations of atmospheric chemical environment and water isotope
Atmospheric chemistry monitoring at the NASDE mainly includes: (1) Atmospheric persistent organic pollutants (POPs) monitoring using passive dynamic samplers; (2) Isotope sampling of precipitation at the station headquarters; (3) Atmospheric pollen sedimentation sample collecting at the station headquarters.
Observation time: Throughout the year
Observation frequency: POPs and TSP are sampled once every quarter; precipitation isotopes are sampled once a day (if precipitation occurs); atmospheric pollen samples are collected every half season.
Stable isotope collection of water at the NASDE
(III) Glacier dynamics: meteorological parameters and mass balance
Observation sites: Anglong Glacier in the upper reaches of Indus River, Naimona'nyi Glacier in the western Himalayas, Gani Glacier in Karakoram Mountain and Guliya Glacier in West Kunlun Mountain.
Observation subjects: Glacier meteorology (wind speed, temperature, humidity, pressure, total radiation, precipitation), glacier mass balance, glacier surface velocity, glacier thickness change.
Observation time: Throughout the year
Observation frequency: For glacier meteorology: once every half hour; for mass balance: once a year
Hydrological observation in Bangong Lake basin
(IV) Lake dynamics: Water level, temperature, and quality
Observation sites: Banggong Co Lake, Sumxi Co Lake and Chem Co Lake
Observation subjects: The water level and temperature and the physicochemical properties of the lake water quality profile (depth, water temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, and transparency) of the Banggong Co Lake; the water level and temperature of the Sumxi Co Lake; the water level and temperature of the Chem Co Lake.
Observation time: For water level and temperature: Throughout the year
Observation frequency: For water level and temperature: Hourly
Multi-parameter index monitoring of water body
(V) River hydrology: Water level, temperature, and flow
Observation sites: Maga Zangbu, Langchan Kambab and Seng-ge Kambab downstream
Observation subjects: Water level, temperature, and flow
Observation time: For water level and temperature: Throughout the year; for flow: In summer
Observation frequency: For water level and temperature: Hourly; for flow: irregular (determined according to the change of water level and flow)
Glacier change observation
(VI) Ecosystem:
Observation site: Artificial precipitation enhancement experimental field in the south of Ritu County
Observation subjects: Plant coverage
Observation frequency: Once a week
V. Contact information
Station director: Zhao Huabiao
Contact information: 010-84097052, zhaohb@itpcas.ac.cn
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