Qinghai–Tibet Plateau Emerges as Asia’s Lifeline With Vast Water Reserves
- Ritambhara K
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau—often hailed as Asia’s “water tower”—holds an extraordinary 10 trillion cubic meters of surface water. Scientists say this vast reservoir is becoming increasingly essential for securing the water needs of more than two billion people across the continent.
The latest findings, unveiled on Nov 19 in Lhasa, the capital of the Xizang autonomous region, reveal not only the plateau’s growing hydrological importance but also the escalating environmental pressures it now confronts.
According to researchers from China’s second Qinghai–Tibet scientific expedition, the plateau’s immense water stores feed some of Asia’s most vital rivers, including the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang–Mekong. These rivers support millions of people across China and neighboring countries. The total water volume, they noted, is roughly equivalent to 200 years of runoff from the Yellow River.
Their newest assessments indicate that the plateau has undergone three major environmental shifts, each contributing to an enhanced water-supply capacity. “The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau is becoming warmer, wetter, and greener—changes that collectively strengthen its ability to supply water,” said Yao Tandong, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a lead scientist on the expedition.
But Yao also warned of a less hopeful trend: “The plateau is becoming darker as well, triggering significant changes in Earth system processes, including shifts in the Asian monsoon and increases in extreme climate events.”
Researchers attribute these profound transformations to complex interactions among ice, water, and the atmosphere—interactions that are simultaneously raising the risks of natural disasters.
Although the plateau generates more than 1 trillion cubic meters of water vapor annually, scientists caution that soaring downstream demand—driven by population growth and greater resource consumption—is placing unprecedented pressure on the system. “The additional water supplied upstream still falls short of meeting the rapidly growing needs downstream,” Yao said, urging stronger regional cooperation to ensure sustainable water management.
Long-term expedition data reveals a steady increase in runoff from major rivers, including the Yangtze and Lancang, over the past four decades. Projections show that river runoff could rise by as much as 49 percent by the end of the century. However, the team also identified 85 glacial lakes at high risk of sudden outburst flooding, highlighting the urgent need for targeted disaster-prevention measures.
Scientists emphasize that the findings will play a critical role in shaping policy—from water-resource planning and climate adaptation to infrastructure protection, including major projects like the Sichuan–Xizang transport corridor.
Looking ahead, the expedition plans to expand monitoring networks, strengthen early-warning systems, and refine strategies to protect the plateau—a region now recognized as central to Asia’s long-term water security.
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