Permafrost Thawing In Northwest China - Xinhua

[hatrack]

XINING, Jan. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- "Affected by global warming, the frozen earth on the Qinghai Plateau has been thawing, according to scientists with the northwest China's Qinghai Province.

Scientists with the Qinghai Climate Data Center have analyzed the data from the frozen area of the plateau in the past decades by using geological information system technology. The scientists found that in the frozen region, the earth's temperature has been noticeably rising. Also, the duration of the year during which the ground is frozen is becoming increasingly shorter and the thickness of the frozen layer has decreased.

According to statistics, the layer of frozen earth is now 50 meters more shallow than it was decades ago, said Qin Ningsheng, director of the center.

Qin said that Xining, the capital city of the province, and Gangcha County, are the two places that have witnessed the worst thaw due to the "hot island" effect brought about by urbanization,and the falling water level in the Qinghai Lake."

EDIT

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/10/content_2439600.htm

[tavalon]

1. Naw, couldn't be global warming

Michael Crichton told us that's just a left wing conspiracy. (sarcasm)

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. Yeah, I bet the Commies told all Chinese to go there and light a match! nt

[On the Road]

3. Northeast China is Warming Up, Too

-- the subartic region just below the Russian Far East. Pretty dramatically, too. No one seems to doubt it over there.