Artificial Snowfall Experiment on the Kunlun Mountains Succeed: Why Take on This Challenge?
Recently,
Researchers successfully conducted the first snow enhancement operation
experiment on the Kunlun Mountains using drones in Xinjiang. The drones took
off at an altitude of 3,500 meters and completed the full combustion ignition
experiment of water-increasing smoke strips at a height of 4,200 meters.
Equipped with high-precision sensors and devices, the drones ensured that the
snow enhancement operation was carried out precisely for the designated areas
and target locations.
The
Kunlun Mountains are an important mountain range in western China. The snow on
these mountains is an important source of solid freshwater and also serves as a
crucial material basis for the development of mountain glaciers. The meltwater
from the snow provides clean and stable water supply for important rivers such
as the Yangtze River and the Yellow River.
However,
under the influence of global climate change, the snow and glaciers on the
Kunlun Mountains are facing new challenges. Observational studies released by
Chinese scientists in August 2024 showed that the "turning point" of
glacier meltwater runoff in the arid northwest region has already appeared, and
glaciers with an area of less than 0.5 square kilometers will melt and
disappear by the middle of this century. The Kunlun Mountain glaciers have been
slowly retreating over the past 40 years, with a retreat rate of 12.5% from
1976 to 2010, and the fastest retreat rate was between 1990 and 2000. From 2000
to 2020, the snow area on the north slope of the Kunlun Mountains showed a
decreasing trend.
Snow
is an important part of the water cycle, and its accumulation and melting have
a significant impact on the economic and social development of downstream
areas. The rising snow line will change the water supply situation and also
alter the species composition and ecological processes of the alpine ecosystem.
Some species that depend on and adapt to the ice and snow for survival will
face the loss of habitat and the crisis of population continuation. The melting
of the permafrost layer makes the soil unstable, and the risk of geological
disasters also increases.
Reviewed by: Richard
Editor: Sara
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