Geoscience

International Collaboration Promotes Eco-study in Gongga Mount

The national key field eco-station - Gongga Alpine Ecosystem Observation and Experimental Station proactively launched international cooperation with Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research and significant progress has been achieved. Headed by Li Maihe, expert of Plant Physiological Ecology, both sides formed a cooperative team composed mainly of young backbone members and doctors. The team achieved effective results with support from the Gongga Alpine Ecosystem Observation and Experiment Station. Their pioneering results were published respectively in some international academic journals such as Plant, Cell and Environment, Tree Physiology, etc.

The team, headed by Li Maihe, proposed the idea of “formation of alpine timberline due to lack of carbohydrate in winter” after 3-year study. Based on this and through comparison of relation between carbon source and sink for trees at alpine timberline and those at low altitude, they discovered that lack of carbohydrate in winter might be only one aspect of the issue, while a balanced relation between carbon source and sink will finally decide the location and distribution of alpine timberline. These innovative research results will proactively promote the study of mechanism of alpine timberline.

Small-satellite to Forecast Natural Disasters and Environment

At 11:00 p.m. Sep. 6, a rocket carrying two environment monitoring satellites (A and B) was launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi Province. It is China’s first constellation for environmental monitoring and disaster relief, consisting of two optical satellites (A and B) and a radar satellite (C). The constellation aims to monitor disasters, ecological damage, pollution 24 hours a day, in any weather and over larger swathes and provide scientific basis for urgent aid, disaster relief and reconstruction.

Survey on Headwater of Lancangjiang Completed