WMO ECPORS 5 The Third Pole Cunde XIAO

WMO EC-PORS 5 The Third Pole Cunde XIAO (CAS and CMA) VUW, Wellington, NZ Feb 25 -28, 2014

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

The First Asia Cryo. Net Workshop Dec. 3 -5, 2013; Beijng.

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

Observing stations in China

Observing stations in other Asian countries

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Chinese National Committee (CNC) of WCRP/Cli. C and IUGG/IACS

CNC-Cli. C/IACS 2013年会，2013年 12月2日，北京 Annual Meeting CNC WCRP/Cli. C 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’ interactions Reveal environmental change processes and mechanisms and their influences on and responses to global changes Serve 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.

Six key science questions have been identified: 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.

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• ~45% world population • 3 oceans • arid/semi-arid Most direct impacted area High Asia Cryosphere Potential impacted area

pasture and flooding Agriculture infrastructures Frozen rain GLOFs Glacial debris flow

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

Existing services Seasonal 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 2030 s-2040 s. 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 Ø The Regional Climate Center in Beijing (BCC) would be an appropriate platform to deliver the needed services. Ø 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