China starts second scientific expedition to Qinghai-Tibet plateau

Chinese scientists set out to conduct a large-scale survey of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau on Saturday, in order to investigate changes to the plateau’s environment.

Data collected during the expedition will be used to provide scientific support for environmental protection and social development efforts in Tibet. The expedition will last five to 10 years and the first stop will be Serling Tso, a 2,391-square-kilometer lake that was confirmed to have replaced the Buddhist holy lake Namtso as Tibet's largest in 2014.

In the coming months, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) will take more than 100 scientists to the lake area and the origin of the Yangtze, China's longest river. They will make a comprehensive survey of the plateau glaciers, climate change, biodiversity and ecological changes.

State-of-the-art technology, including drones and satellites, will be used to provide a more accurate understanding of the region.

(CGTN)