XINING, Dec. 14 -- Every time Wang Jianqiong goes to work, he arrives out of breath after climbing the 99 steps to his office.
Wang works as a meteorological monitor at the China Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) Baseline Observatory at Mount Waliguan in northwest China's Qinghai Province. Located 3,816 meters above sea level on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, it is the highest of the 31 GAW observatories in the world.
The observatory so far has realized all-weather and high-density observation of more than 60 elements in 30 projects, including greenhouse gases, solar radiation, radioactive substances and precipitation, with more than 60,000 pieces of data collected every day. It has been sharing its data with international meteorological organizations since it was put into operation in 1994.
"We need to walk slowly here to prevent fainting caused by altitude sickness," said Wang, after he and his partner unloaded food and necessities from their car. They take turns and change shifts every 10 days.
Despite having worked at the station for years, altitude sickness is still a major challenge for the monitors who mainly live in the province's capital city of Xining, about 2,200 meters above sea level and 140 km away from the observatory. Some people can barely sleep in the first few days because of the lack of oxygen.
However, the high-altitude station in harsh conditions is an ideal place for special observations.
"In order to detect the natural contents of various trace elements that represent the uniform mixing of the whole atmosphere, one must meet very high environmental requirements," said Sun Jinglan, deputy director of the comprehensive observation department of the China Meteorological Administration (CMA).
Wang and his colleagues thus eat pre-cooked meals three times a day all year round on the plateau to reduce the impact of cooking fumes on data collection, and many of them suffer from gastrointestinal diseases as a result.
The local government also took a host of measures to ensure the area is not affected by external factors. It has banned all projects discharging pollutants within a 50-km radius of the observatory and even the flight from Xining to Yushu, which had been scheduled to pass through the area, was rerouted.
Outside the station is an 80-meter observation tower, which the monitors often climb up and down in spite of the danger. Neither the heat and strong sunshine nor the cold and windy weather prevent them from dusting, clearing the ice and reinforcing the instruments to ensure the tower's smooth operation.
Over the past 25 years, the meteorologists here have built up an extended series of observations of greenhouse gas concentrations. The carbon dioxide curve based on this data is known as the "Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Curve," or "Maliguan Curve."
"The curves are very important and valuable. One of the main reasons the Chinese government supports the idea of climate change is that we have the relevant observational data," said Liu Ning, governor of Qinghai Province.
China has been actively participating in global climate governance in areas such as global atmospheric baselines and greenhouse gas observations, said Zhang Wenjian, assistant secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organization.
Six of the monitors have also been involved in international scientific research activities including expeditions to Antarctica. Li Delin, 42, one of the most senior monitors at the station, spent a year and a half working in Antarctica from 2017 to 2017.
"I firmly believe that our data will benefit future generations, so our efforts on the plateau are worth it," he said.
At present, the construction project of the office building at the station with a total investment of 9.8 million yuan (1.39 million U.S. dollars) has been approved. A scientific and standardized laboratory will also be built to promote atmospheric monitoring operations.
"As the largest developing country, China has become an increasingly important part of global ecological civilization. In the process of building a community with a shared future for mankind, China has contributed wisdom and solutions to global climate governance and ecological progress," said Liu Yaming, director of the CMA.
美国司法部长被提名人:将保护涉俄调查不受政治干预
国际英语资讯:France offers 1.15 bln USD loan to Iraq for reconstruction
国内英语资讯:Chinese commerce minister vows continued efforts to attract foreign investment
国内英语资讯:China unveils follow-up lunar exploration missions
国际英语资讯:Most Americans blame Trump, Republicans for partial govt shutdown: poll
奥斯卡没有主持人?听说主办方请了“复联”英雄们来救场
特朗普:边境需建墙阻挡洪都拉斯“移民大军”
新研究发现:肚子越大,脑子越小
国际英语资讯:Yemens Houthi rebels fire ballistic missile at Saudi military base
奶牛印花成2019最新潮流?贝嫂和梅根都穿上了
国内英语资讯:China, UAE to cement bilateral cooperation, promote BRI
国际英语资讯:Tunisian president says democratic transition still not safe
想成为烹饪达人?一定要避开这些误区
Sky in the Morning 早上的天空
国内英语资讯:Top political advisor stresses determination to overcome abject poverty
国际英语资讯:ASEAN seeks measures to accelerate sustainable tourism development
国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Turkey-U.S. cooperation expected to continue despite strained ties
体坛英语资讯:Anfield defeat hammers home differences between Liverpool and Manchester United
苹果耳机可以偷听另一个房间的对话?怎么回事
国内英语资讯:Senior CPC official meets Afghan presidents national security adviser
人生的四季各有滋味
国内英语资讯:Spotlight: Belt and Road Cooperation Research Center inaugurated in Cairo
国际英语资讯:Roundup: Bangladesh raises wages for millions of garment workers following widespread unrest
Taylor Swift格莱美几乎0提名?事业到头了吗
国际英语资讯:Final word on Brexit plan to go to PM as most crucial vote in a generation nears
英国“脱欧”协议遭否决 准妈妈议员为投票延后剖腹产
国内英语资讯:Premier Li stresses implementation of Xis speech on Party governance
食物过敏和食物不耐受的区别是什么?
国内英语资讯:Chinese premier urges efforts to keep growth within reasonable range
国际英语资讯:U.S. top diplomat seeks Arab coalition force to face threats
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |