STORY: Chinese scientists measure glacier thickness in Yangtze headwaters
SHOOTING TIME: July 25, 2024
DATELINE: Aug. 2, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:51
LOCATION: XINING, China
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the foot of the Dongkemadi glacier
2. STANDUP (English): TIAN ZHONGQUAN, Xinhua correspondent
3. various of the Sanjiangyuan area
4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): FAN YUE, Engineer of CRSRI
5. various of researchers climbing the mountain and detecting the thickness of the glacier

STORYLINE:

STANDUP (English): TIAN ZHONGQUAN, Xinhua correspondent
"Hello, we are at the foot of the Dongkemadi glacier in northwest China's Qinghai Province. The glacier meltwater from the top of the mountain converges into streams and eventually flows into the Yangtze River.
Today, a group of researchers from the Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute (CRSRI) are gonna climb to the top of the mountain and detect the thickness of the glacier. Well, it's not an easy task, but we are gonna take a close look."

Qinghai Province is home to the Sanjiangyuan area, which contains the headwaters of China's three major rivers: the Yangtze River, the Yellow River, and the Lancang River, which is known as the Mekong River after it flows out of China.

As important parts of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau ecosystem, the headwater regions of the Yangtze and Lancang rivers play a crucial role in safeguarding water resources, protecting biodiversity and ensuring ecological stability.

Recently, Chinese scientists have embarked on an expedition in the headwater regions of the Yangtze and Lancang rivers.

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): FAN YUE, Engineer of CRSRI
"Our task today is to use the ground penetrating radar to measure glaciers.
As important parts of the water cycle in the Sanjiangyuan area, surface water, streams, groundwater, and permafrost are mutually transformed and jointly support the water ecology of the Sanjiangyuan area.
Our work is to figure out the groundwater distribution and glacier evolution in the headwater regions.
This is my third consecutive visit to the Sanjiangyuan area to do research here.
We have gained a better understanding of the glacier evolution so far, which can help protect the water resources and ecological environment in the Sanjiangyuan area in the future."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Xining, China.
(XHTV)