Special Report: Fight against Global Warming

    LHASA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Temperatures in Tibet have risen continuously over the past 48 years at a rate much higher than the national level, a meteorologist said Monday.

    The research, based on data from 38 weather stations of the Tibet Autonomous Regional Meteorological Bureau, indicated that the average temperature in the landlocked region rose 0.32 degree Celsius every 10 years between 1961 to 2008, according to Du Jun, a senior engineer with the bureau.

Temperatures in Tibet have risen continuously over the past 48 years at a rate much higher than the national level, a meteorologist said Monday.  (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    In China, average temperatures rose 0.05 degree Celsius to 0.08 degree Celsius every decade, while the global level was 0.2 degree Celsius, Du said.

    Lhasa, the capital, and the cities of Tsedang and Shiagatse experienced the sharpest rise of more than 0.3 degree Celsius every decade.

    Tibet was one of the most sensitive areas to climate change, said Du.

    The temperature change was a direct effect of global warming, he said, which triggered snow melting, glacial shrinking and rising water levels.

    He said that other phenomena included grassland degradation, more plant diseases and insect pests, a reduction in bio-diversity and higher risks of disasters.

    Another study, by the Institute of Atmospheric Environment of the Tibetan Plateau, claimed that grassland in the cold highland region shrank by about 40 percent from 1988 to 2005 due to greenhouse effects, excessive grazing and human activities.

Tibet's annual precipitation rises in past 50 years

    BEIJING, April 27 (Xinhuanet) -- The precipitation in southwest China's Tibet rose at an average annual rate of 10.9 mm every ten years from 1961 to 2008, according to the Meteorological Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region.

    Statistics from the 38 climate data stations in the region show that the annual rainfall recorded by most stations was on the rise, said Du Jun, senior engineer of the Cimate Cnter of the bureau.