Cunde XIAO(CAS and CMA)

The Third Pole

WMO EC-PORS 5

VUW, Wellington, NZ Feb 25-28, 2014

Outline

Observations Research Services

Informal Meeting of Asian GCW/CryoNet in Lanzhou, March 2013Combined with EC-PORS 4

The First Asia CryoNet WorkshopDec. 3-5, 2013; Beijng.

Set-up an Expert Group working on best practices (BP) issues. Develop plan & priorities (coordinated by GCW working structure). Go for common standards and BP to be tailored by GCW . Data policy: free exchange + some conditions to be specified. Regional Working Group (WG) was agreed upon (organization of GCW according to WMO Regions). Development of Regional GCW-IPs (practices; data policy – regional components). GCW-IP needs to be updated (e.g. GCW implementation period (2015-2019), operation onward, definition phase 2007-2015). Formal procedure for nominating GCW Asia experts. A letter to countries’ Permanent Representative for WMO to reaffirm the GCW focal point and to seek support for GCW and CryoNet would be very valuable. Further meeting: maybe another mountainous area for GCW, and 3rd pole included

Some agreements and conclusions by breakout sessions

Observing stations in China

Observing stations in other Asian countries

Outline

Observations Research Services

Chinese National Committee (CNC) of WCRP/CliC and IUGG/IACS

CNC-CliC/IACS 2013年会， 2013年 12月 2日，北京

Annual Meeting CNC WCRP/CliC

and IUGG/IACS

July 28-Aug 2, 2013 Beijing

The Third Pole Environment (TPE) has been proposed to Address such a theme as ‘water-ice-air-vegetation-rock(soil)-

human’ interactionsReveal environmental change processes and mechanisms

and their influences on and responses to global changesServe for more appropriate adaptation to changing earth

system and more efficient sustenance of the future environment, for realization of human-nature harmony on the Third Pole.

1. Environmental and ecological changes having occurred on different time scales in the past, and driving mechanisms;

2. Characteristics of water and energy cycles, their main components, and relationship to the Indian monsoon and westerlies;

3. Responses of ecosystem changes to global warming, especially at high elevations;

4. The glacial status of the Third Pole, and the response of glacial retreat and mass balance changes to the water and energy cycle and its components, in addition to their environmental impacts;

5. The impact of anthropogenic activities; 6. The more appropriate way to adapt to global change and more

efficient way to sustain future environment in the Third Pole region.

Six key science questions have been identified:

Outline

Observations Research Services

Potential impacted area

Most direct impacted area

High Asia Cryosphere

• ~45% world population• 3 oceans• arid/semi-arid

pasture and flooding infrastructures

Agriculture

GLOFsGlacial debris flow

Frozen rain

Forum on Climate Monitoring, Assessment and Prediction for Asia(organized by WMO and BCC)

Existing servicesSeasonal climate prediction: snow cover data over the Third Pole region has been used as a key element in seasonal prediction of climate by the Beijing Climate Center (BCC).

Water availability prediction: long-term prediction of glacier meltwater changes are operational. The tipping point of “increase to decrease” meltwater in small glacier catchments is predicted to appear around 2030s-2040s.

Disaster prevention: Snow storms are forecasted by most regional and national weather services.

Infrastructural protection: Monitoring networks of permafrost exist along Tibetan highways and railways, with some initial predictions of permafrost thawing and preventive measures taken.

Ecology protection and pasture maintenance: some basic research is carried out in the headwater of rivers such as Yellow, Yangdz and Meikong, including in situ measurements of ecology and hydrology.

Service Delivery Platforms

The Regional Climate Center in Beijing (BCC) would be an appropriate platform to deliver the needed services.

Also, the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), located in Nepal, would be another potential partner platform to help through the coordinated efforts.

Thank you