Xinhua - Yangtze Headwaters Permafrost Less Than 10 Meters Thick Gone By 2016, Scientists Say

[hatrack]

Experts predict in the next seven years, permafrost in the Tibetan Plateau less than 10-meters-thick will disappear completely. "The Yangtze River area geological survey of ecological environment" reports large areas of permafrost soil which protect the swamp wetland in the Yangtze River area are also being lost.

The survey was jointly carried out by the Qinghai Institute of Geology and the China University of Geosciences. Permafrost refers to soil at or below the freezing point of water for two or more years under a certain depth of ground surface. In the Tibetan Plateau, permafrost improves soil moisture, slows desertification, and assists the growth of vegetation and swamp wetlands.

Xin Yuanhong, project leader of the survey, believes the problem is widespread. SOUNDBITE: Xin Yuanhong,project leader of "the Yangtze River area geological survey of ecological environment" In recent years, the permafrost layer in the Yangtze River area is both thinning and shrinking. Plus, the Yellow River source of the permafrost is also receding.

The project leader says the shrinking permafrost will affect both nature and man-made civilization.

EDIT

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/13/content_10816480.htm

[Lorien]

1. That will be devastating for China

and it's important to remember the most wars have historically been over natural resources...

[hatrack]

2. Lack of historical knowledge runs deep when it comes to the PRC, in most cases . . .

It's interesting surveying the "Inevitable Rise Of China" and noting how many people fail to realize how many times this has happened before - great increases in wealth, power & complexity, followed by massive, horrifying collapses - from the T'ang to the Sung to the Ming to today.

[phantom power]

3. 7 years.