STORY: Climate change brings multiple impacts in headwater region of Yangtze
SHOOTING TIME: July 21-26, 2024
DATELINE: Aug. 24, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:06
LOCATION: XINING, China
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Yangtze River's headwater region
2. various of the expedition
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): FAN YUE, Engineer of Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute (CRSRI)

STORYLINE:

The headwater region of the Yangtze River -- known as Sanjiangyuan -- is a highly sensitive area to climate change and an ecologically fragile zone.

The Sanjiangyuan area is located on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, which is known as the "roof of the world" and Asia's "water tower." 

It is China's most crucial ecological security barrier and a strategic resource reserve, playing a vital role in water, ecological, climate, and environmental security globally.

In July, more than 20 researchers from the country's water resources department and scientific research institutions set foot on the plateau's hinterland for an expedition to the Yangtze River's headwater region. 

During their 10-day trip, they conducted observations and experiments, in the process identifying various changes in the environment, including an improved ecological environment, rising temperatures, and shrinking glaciers.

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): FAN YUE, Engineer of Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute (CRSRI)
"Our research team primarily focuses on the exploration of groundwater and glaciers. When we're on a glacier, we conduct surveys to determine its thickness. There are only two methods to measure glacier thickness. The first is a direct approach, which involves drilling into the glacier to measure its depth directly. However, as we all know, transporting drilling equipment to altitudes of five to six thousand meters above sea level is extremely costly. As a result, data obtained this way is very limited. Therefore, we use an indirect method, employing ground-penetrating radar to detect the depth of the glacier's base, which allows us to infer the glacier's thickness."

According to the expedition, glaciers in the Yangtze River source area are generally in a state of retreat, shrinking and thinning.

However, in recent years, the ecological environment protection of the Sanjiangyuan area has achieved positive results.

Data from Qinghai's ecology and environment department shows that the water quality of the Yangtze River's mainstream in the province has remained in a Class-I or Class-II condition for many years.

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