Ebook: Mountain Geoecology and Sustainable Development of the Tibetan Plateau
- Tags: Physical Geography, Ecology, Environmental Management, Economic Geography, Hydrogeology
- Series: GeoJournal Library 57
- Year: 2000
- Publisher: Springer Netherlands
- Edition: 1
- Language: English
- pdf
Intense uplift of the Tibetan Plateau in Late Cenozoic Era is one of the most important events in geological history of the Earth. The plateau offers an ideal region for studying of lithospheric formation and evolution, probing into the mechanism of crustal movement, and understanding of changes in environments and geo-ecosystems in Asia. Intense uplift ofthe plateau resulted in drastic changes of natural environment and apparent regional differentiation on the plateau proper and neighboring regions. The plateau therefore becomes a sensitive area of climate change in Asian monsoon region, which is closely related to the global change. As a special physical unit, its ecosystems occupy a prominent position in the world. Due to its extremely high elevation and great extent, natural types and characteristics of physical landscapes on the plateau are quite different from those in lowlands at comparable latitudes, and environments are also different from those in high latitudinal zones. Consequently, the Tibetan Plateau has been classified as one of three giant physical regions in China and considered as a unique unit on Earth. Scientific surveys and expeditions to the Tibetan Plateau on large scale began from 1950's. Amongst them, a number of comprehensive scientific expeditions to the Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region, Hengduan Mts. areas, Karakorum and Kunlun Mts. regions, as well as the Hoh Xii Mts. areas, have been successively carried out by the Integrated Scientific Expedition to Tibetan Plateau, sponsored by Chinese Academy of Sciences since 1973.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xii
Introduction....Pages 1-17
Uplift and Environmental Changes of the Tibetan Plateau....Pages 19-45
Three Dimensional Differentiation of Natural Zonation....Pages 47-69
The Population Changes and Urban Development....Pages 71-88
Climate: Past, Present, and Future....Pages 89-112
Permafrost: Status, Variation and Impacts....Pages 113-137
Biodiversity: Biota and Biocoenose....Pages 139-157
Human Health Aspect in Geoecology....Pages 159-180
Land-Use and Agricultural Development....Pages 181-202
Natural Hazards and Environmental Issues....Pages 203-222
Nature Conservation....Pages 223-242
Regional Social-Economic Sustainable Development....Pages 243-264
Geo-Ecology of Mts. Namjagbarwa Region....Pages 265-282
Dry Valleys in Hengduan Mts Region....Pages 283-302
High-Cold Scrubs and Meadow Zone....Pages 303-325
Hinterland of Qiangtang Plateau....Pages 327-348
Kunlun Mountains Region....Pages 349-372
Back Matter....Pages 373-396
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xii
Introduction....Pages 1-17
Uplift and Environmental Changes of the Tibetan Plateau....Pages 19-45
Three Dimensional Differentiation of Natural Zonation....Pages 47-69
The Population Changes and Urban Development....Pages 71-88
Climate: Past, Present, and Future....Pages 89-112
Permafrost: Status, Variation and Impacts....Pages 113-137
Biodiversity: Biota and Biocoenose....Pages 139-157
Human Health Aspect in Geoecology....Pages 159-180
Land-Use and Agricultural Development....Pages 181-202
Natural Hazards and Environmental Issues....Pages 203-222
Nature Conservation....Pages 223-242
Regional Social-Economic Sustainable Development....Pages 243-264
Geo-Ecology of Mts. Namjagbarwa Region....Pages 265-282
Dry Valleys in Hengduan Mts Region....Pages 283-302
High-Cold Scrubs and Meadow Zone....Pages 303-325
Hinterland of Qiangtang Plateau....Pages 327-348
Kunlun Mountains Region....Pages 349-372
Back Matter....Pages 373-396
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