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Thermal variations in surface and atmosphere observed from multiple satellites prior to strong earthquakes have been widely reported ever since seismic thermal anomalies were discovered three decades ago. These thermal changes are related to stress accumulation caused by the tectonic activities in the final stage of earthquake preparation. In the present paper, we focused on the thermal changes associated with the 2021 Madoi M 7.3 earthquake in China and analyzed the temporal and spatial evolution of the Index of Microwave Radiation Anomaly (IMRA) and the Index of Longwave Radiation Anomaly (ILRA) based on 8-year microwave brightness temperature (MWBT) and 14-year outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) data collected by satellites. We also explored their responses in different tectonic units (seismogenic fault zone and active tectonic block). Our results indicated that the enhanced IMRA was distributed along the seismogenic fault since mid-February and reappeared for a longer time and with stronger intensity in March and April 2021. The pronounced enhancement in the ILRA was observed within one month over Bayan Har tectonic and adjacent blocks. The higher ILRA over the tectonic blocks in the southern Tibet Plateau at the beginning of 2021 could be associated with the regional stress accumulation, as proven by the occurrences of two moderate earthquakes during this period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species (Iragoides peiwangi sp. nov. and Caelestomorpha serratus sp. nov.) and two newly recorded species [Euphlyctina phaeopasta (Hampson, 1906) and Mummu aerata Solovyev & Witt, 2009] are reported from China. Of these, the genera Caelestomorpha Solovyev & Witt, 2009 and Mummu Solovyev & Witt, 2009 are new to China; the female of the genus Euphlyctina Hering, 1931 is illustrated and described in this paper for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smallholder livelihoods in agricultural areas in Tibet Autonomous Region, China (Tibet for short) have traditionally been based on subsistence mixed crop-livestock systems. Like many parts of China and the developing world, rural Tibet is undergoing rapid change in agricultural development, boosted by links with the off-farm sector. However, the agricultural transition process in Tibet has not been linear, is affected by policies particular to the region, and varies significantly for different categories of rural actors. This paper analyses heterogeneity of household types in agricultural areas of southern Tibet and how household structures and characteristics result in different agricultural development pathways. Data is drawn from a stratified random survey of 144 households in three townships in southern Tibet and analysed through three methods: cluster analysis, bio-economic modelling, and analysis of household perceptions and attitudes to change. The analysis allows for the identification of three key household types — semi-subsistence, pluriactive and semi-commercial — organised along a continuum of intensification, commercialisation, specialisation and productivity. The study demonstrates the diversity of household farming systems in Tibet which in turn highlights the need for disaggregated analysis and tailored development policies and strategies. However, the analysis also reveals commonalities in development paths between groups, where all farm types are more interested in pursuing income and livelihood goals through an increase in productivity than through an increase in scale. Farmers in all systems choose to retain agriculture as a base from which to pursue livelihood strategies, especially through off-farm activities. Accounting for this household heterogeneity is important on several levels. First, it provides more granular detail on the process of development in rural areas of Tibet that have been very difficult to access in English literature especially in recent years. Second, the characteristics of the case study in agricultural areas of Tibet — especially the mixed agricultural-pastoral systems, high levels of seasonality, heavy state investment and increased integration with the other regions of China — may contribute to the broader agricultural development study. Third, policymakers in the central and local governments may be interested in how the household heterogeneity may affect — or be affected by — policies to increase agricultural productivity, intensify systems, change the composition of crop-livestock systems, promote rural-urban transformation and pursue environmental objectives, especially grassland degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article aimed to investigate the main pigment composition of the A. obtusiloba, focusing on the changes in absorbance spectra in relation to environmental factors of the alpine meadows of Maqu County, China, using UV-vis spectrophotometry, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The results showed that there were two kinds of pigments in A. obtusiloba, carotenoids, and flavonoids. The absorbance spectra regularly changed with the depth of flower colour. Based on HPLC and LC-MS analyses, seven kinds of flavonoids were inferred, including luteolin-3-7-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-rutoside, quercetin-3-O-galactoside, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside, kaempferol-3-O-sophoroside, and myricetin-3-Orhamnose, and the derivative of quercetin was identified as the main component in A. obtusiloba. Additionally, according to the analysis of the flavonoid metabolism pathway, it could be determined that flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase (F3'H) was the key enzyme in increasing quercetin content. This paper speculates that A. obtusiloba increases the content of quercetin by regulating flavonoid F3'H, so that it can deepen the flower colour to adapt to the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although progress has been made in defining and explaining the temporal and spatial distributions of Neo‐Tethyan magmatism in the Tibet–Himalaya region, the correlation of magmatic suites in the SE Tibetan Plateau remains poorly constrained. This paper reports zircon U–Pb dating, geochemistry, and Sr–Nd isotope compositions of a concealed gabbroic unit (coverage area of >6.0 km2) in the southern Lancangjiang tectonic zone, western Yunnan, SW China. Zircon 206Pb/238U ages of 143–133 Ma indicate that the unit formed during the Early Cretaceous (ca. 139.7 Ma). The gabbro samples have variable MgO (7.88–16.1 wt%; Mg# = 58–74) and relatively low TiO2 (0.76–1.24 wt%) and total‐alkali (K2O + Na2O = 2.61–4.06 wt%) contents. The samples exhibit weakly fractionated rare earth element (REE) patterns with slight depletion in light REEs and negligible Eu anomalies. In a primitive‐mantle‐normalized element‐variation diagram, the gabbros, display variable enrichment in large‐ion lithophile elements and relatively flat patterns of high‐field‐strength elements. Initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios of 0.7079 to 0.7142 and relatively depleted εNd(t) values of +3.96 to +4.84 are similar to those of the mantle source of back‐arc basin basalts (BABBs) in the central Lhasa Block and mid‐ocean ridge basalt in the Indus–Tsangpo Suture Zone. These various characteristics suggest that the gabbroic unit was derived from a shallow and depleted mantle source by relatively high‐degree partial melting in the spinel stability field. The parental magma underwent slight crustal contamination, as well as fractional crystallization of clinopyroxene. The studied gabbros have distinct BABB‐type geochemical affinities similar to those of the Okinawa BABB. Combining our data with the coeval occurrence of a continental rift basin (the Simao–Lanping Basin) leads us to suggest the existence of a back‐arc rifting setting in the SE Tibetan Plateau during the Jurassic–Cretaceous. This setting can also be geochronologically and genetically correlated to the back‐arc basin developed within the Lhasa Block. These settings and constituent characteristics formed as a result of Neo‐Tethyan oceanic slab subduction during the late Mesozoic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the panel data of 30 provinces (except Tibet) in China from 2012 to 2019, this paper uses the ML index method and spatial econometric model to evaluate the impact and spillover effect of innovation investment on environmental total factor productivity. The study found the following conclusions. (1) Environmental total factor productivity showed a fluctuating upward trend as a whole, and the driving force of environmental total factor productivity growth mainly came from technological progress. (2) There is global spatial correlation and positive spatial spillover effect in regional environmental total factor productivity. There is a certain spatial correlation in provincial environmental total factor productivity, and the improvement of environmental total factor productivity in this region will promote the improvement of environmental total factor productivity in surrounding areas. (3) Innovation investment, economic development, and foreign investment level play a significant role in promoting the improvement of environmental total factor productivity, and energy structure and human capital level have a negative impact on the improvement of environmental total factor productivity. (4) Innovation investment, economic development, human capital, and foreign investment have positive spillover effects on the improvement of environmental total factor productivity in the surrounding areas, while the energy structure shows negative spillover effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sanjiangyuan region is located in the hinterland of Qinghai-Tibet plateau, covering an area of 30.25 square kilometers, with the total population of 556000 people, including Tibetans, constituting more than 90%. Since it is the source of the Yangtze River, Yellow River, Lancang River catchment area, biodiversity concentration, and a beautiful environment, known as the "Chinese water tower," occupy an irreplaceable strategic position in national development. Although Sanjiangyuan region is blessed with unique natural landscape and rich tourism resources, its ecological environment has been seriously deteriorated due to long-term man-made destruction, backward economic development, and increasing poverty, which have seriously affected and restricted the survival and development of local ethnic groups. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized that "Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets." China advocates harmonious coexistence between humans and nature and sticks to the path of green and sustainable development. At the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the rural revitalization strategy was clearly proposed, which includes not only industrial revitalization but also ecological revitalization. In this paper, the area belonging to Sanjiangyuan National Park is taken as the main research object. By constructing economic, tourism, and ecological environment (TEE) evaluation indexes, the coupling degree and coupling coordination degree models are established, and the data from 2000 to 2019 are measured. The relationship of the three indicators is analyzed, and corresponding proposals for its development are put forward, such as implementing ecological compensation mechanism to improve the level of ecosystem management; blending into ethnic cultural elements to create a unique tourist resort; paying attention to economic development quality, building energy conservation and emissions reduction green engine; Doing a good job in the top-level design of ecological economy, and promoting the coordinated development of various indicators, etc. We will focus on quality control of economic development and build green engines for energy conservation and emission reduction. We will do a good job in top-level ecological and economic design and promote coordinated development of various indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On June 25, 2020, Jinweng Co in Yiga, Tibet, experienced an outburst flood that resulted in catastrophic damage to farmland and roads. The complex causal factors for glacial lake outburst flooding (GLOF) are not fully understood. This paper provides a systematic analysis of the contributing factors leading to the GLOF disaster in terms of meteorological triggering, glacial activity, lake expansion, landslide, and glacial collapse. The analysis is based on multi-source remote sensing approaches. Pixel offset tracking of Sentinel-1 images shows changes in the glacier flow velocity from 2017 to 2020. Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 images and inventory data have revealed the expansion of the lake since 1998. The satellite precipitation measurements revealed that the highest daily rainfall in recent years occurred approximately 4 days before the GLOF. Time series synthetic aperture radar (SAR) backscattering images and interferograms suggest that a landslide had occurred from the western lateral moraine into the lake. Additionally, SAR images suggest possible ice collapse from the glacier tongue into the lake. The causal mechanism for the June 2020 GLOF event was likely the dam failure triggered by heavy rainfall and combined with landslides and ice collapses. Our research can provide a reference to identify and mitigate glacial lake outburst disasters in mountainous regions based on satellite optical and radar images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agricultural Resources & Environment / Nongye Ziyuan yu Huanjing Xuebao is the property of Journal of Agricultural Resources & Environment Editorial Board and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Monte Carlo simulations have been performed to study the effects of near-earth thunderstorms electric field on the showers with different zenith angle ranges. A vertical and uniform atmospheric electric field model is used in our simulations. The counting rates of ground cosmic rays at YBJ (located at YangBaJing, Tibet, China, 4300 m a. s. l.) are found to be associated with the strength and polarity of the electric field. The variations are also strongly dependent upon the shower's zenith angle and the distance to shower core. During thunderstorms, when the distance to shower core is less than a certain value (4 m in −1000 V/cm and 40 m in +1000 V/cm), the counting rates decrease as the distance to shower core decreases, and the decreased amplitude becomes larger with the increasing zenith angle and electric field strength, especially for that in positive fields (i.e., fields accelerating positive charges downwards). As the distance to shower core increases, an increase of ground cosmic ray intensity occurs, and the enhanced amplitude becomes lager with smaller zenith angles. However, when the distance to shower core is large enough (320 m in −1000 V/cm and 540 m in +1000 V/cm), the enhanced amplitude increases with the increasing zenith angle as well as the rising strength of the electric field. A clear relationship between the intensity variations of the ground cosmic rays from showers with different zenith angle ranges and the distances to shower core in fields is given in this paper. Our simulation results are beneficial to understand the flux variations obtained by ground-based cosmic ray detectors with scaler mode and shower mode, as well as the acceleration mechanisms of secondary charged particles caused by an atmospheric electric field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After Buddhism was transmitted to Tibet, it became localized and absorbed various religious and cultural elements. Subsequently, when Tibetan Buddhism was transmitted to different countries and regions, it again became fused with local customs and beliefs, to form diverse types of Tibetan Buddhism. The object of this research is the Intermediate-state ritual regularly held for the deceased at Nona Hwatsang Center which belongs to the rNying ma lineage, which combines Chinese Buddhist doctrines with Tibetan Buddhist methods, and incorporates the form of religious activity of Han people. Past research on the Chanting-Service Ritual focuses on discussing religious thought and hospice care. This paper discusses how the perception is dynamically constructed and destroyed during the intermediate state by "incurving" the three-time sound and images in the ritual. The distinctive part of the Intermediate-state ritual is the gurus with high authority performing religious functions through playing the dead gurus' videos. The videos are used to imitate and present the sounds and images so that they might be heard and seen during the intermediate state, as instructed by the authoritative scriptures. In addition, the lay group guides the deceased's consciousness to dynamically perceive the sounds and images from the perspective of the Threefold Contemplation for self-liberating. Furthermore, in this research, Gilles Deleuze's theoretical structure of images is adopted to discuss the individual perceptions constructed dynamically through the interaction among various elements and karma during an individual's life. However, the deceased should realize the common perception of Buddha nature, which is constructed in Buddhist doctrines and has the effect of destroying the individual perceptions, and the mind's journey to the Pure Land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mid-Late Mesozoic magmatic arc in southern Qiangtang block was associated with the long-lasting subduction of the Bangong-Nujiang Tethyan and the subsequent Lhasa-Qiangtang collision. The detailed processes associated with the transition from oceanic lithosphere subduction to lithosphere delamination remain unclear. This paper reports zircon U-Pb age, major and trace element and Sr-Nd isotopic data for the Cretaceous two-phase magmatic rocks in the Shuanghu region of the southern Qiangtang block located in central Tibet. Zircon dating on the Qushenla volcanic rocks yields a 206Pb/238U age of 114 ± 4 Ma. The Abushan volcanic rocks comprise rhyolites. Zircon dating on two rhyolites yields a 206Pb/238U age of 74 ± 1 to 76 ± 1 Ma. In contrast with the Qushenla volcanic rocks, the Abushan rhyolites exhibit features typical of high-fractionated I-type granitoids, high K calc-alkaline and shoshonite, and peraluminous, suggesting that the Abushan rhyolites formed in post-collision setting. The Qushenla volcanic rocks have slightly higher initial 87Sr/86Sr (0.70466–0.70537), and εNd(t) (1.71–2.89) in comparison with the Abushan rhyolites (87Sr/86Sr = 0.70453–0.70491, εNd(t) = 1.63–2.35). The Qushenla volcanic rocks were most likely derived from the mixing of mantle-derived components and crustal material. And the crust assimilation and fractional crystallization played a role during the ascent of magma. The Abushan volcanic rocks derived from magmatic mixing between the crustal materials and mantle-derived components, and undergoing extensive fractional crystallization. Taking into account the regional tectonic and magmatic data, we suggest that the transition from the oceanic lithosphere subduction to lithosphere delamination occurred during the Late Cretaceous in central Tibet. It evolved through three stages: 125–100 Ma, late subduction of Bangong-Nujiang Tethys; 100–87 Ma slab break-off of subduction Bangong-Nujiang Tethys; and 87–73 Ma lithosphere delamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The permafrost degradation can cause long‐term ground surface subsidence, and the surface undergoes frost heave and thaw settlement due to the ice‐water phase change in the active layer. The multi‐year surveys by leveling observations and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar monitoring (InSAR) are helpful to understand the characteristics of seasonal deformation and to model the permafrost terrain surface deformation. In this paper, we studied the characteristics of seasonal deformation over permafrost terrain in Xidatan, obtained by leveling measurements from 2010 to 2018, Sentinel‐1 data from 2014 to 2020, and hydrothermal‐data‐based simulation. The results consistently showed a four‐stage pattern of seasonal deformation characteristics: Summer thaw subsiding, warm‐season stable‐standing, winter freeze heaving and stable‐standing. The leveling measurements proved that spatial heterogeneity also exists on a small spatial scale (400 m2). The deformation amplitude obtained by leveling data is the largest, and the InSAR data is the smallest. Plain Language Summary: The active layer plays a key role in land surface processes in permafrost areas. Due to the volume change associated with the ice‐water phase transition, this causes periodic deformation of the ground surface. Surface deformation in permafrost areas has a great negative impact on cold‐region infrastructures, and it is also an indicator of permafrost changes in a warming climate. Since 2010, we have been conducting a large number of observations along the Qinghai‐Tibet Highway. The meteorological observation field provides data for simulation and the analysis of deformation. And Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) has significant advantages in providing high time‐resolved deformation results. Here, the characteristics of permafrost surface intra‐annual deformation are firstly investigated in detail by using a multi‐data source. The applicability of InSAR and simulation results in the permafrost region was evaluated using leveling measured data, and the reasons for the difference were analyzed. Key Points: Seasonal deformation was studied in detail by leveling measurement, InSAR monitoring and hydrothermal‐data‐based simulationThe leveling observations of surface deformation in the permafrost site of Xidatan from 2010 to 2018 were first presentedA four‐stage intra‐annual deformation pattern: summer thaw subsiding, warm‐season stable‐standing, winter freeze heaving and stable‐standing [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the translator, Rongzom's (fl. late 11th/early 12th c.), scholastic philosophical defense of early Dzokchen (rdzogs pa chen po) or "Great Perfection." As our earliest instance of religious apologia in Tibet, this examination contributes to a growing body of knowledge about the Tibetan assimilation of post-tenth century of Vajrayāna Buddhism and the indigenous response to the forces of cultural transformation shaping the late eleventh/early twelfth century Tibet. Traditional authorities and academics have identified Dzokchen as a Tibetan tradition of Buddhism that drew intense criticism at the time from renaissance agents. This paper explores the primary Tibetan response by describing Rongzom's philosophical defense of Great Perfection. As such, it illuminates the intellectual and ideological context of the milieu as it evinces Rongzom's innovation and mastery of Indian systems of logic, language, and epistemology in the Dzokchen approach to the Buddhist path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests are the main components of terrestrial ecosystems and play an important role in the protection and construction of the national ecological security barrier. For a long time, China's large-scale afforestation had been practiced in areas with rainfall higher than the 400 mm threshold, but the issue of afforestation in high altitudes on the Tibetan Plateau remains elusive in both practical experience and theoretical exploration. It is worth thinking further about what principles should be followed in the selection of tree species and suitable altitudes for afforestation in high-altitude areas, as well as what experiences and lessons of previous afforestation efforts should be applied in high-altitude areas. As per the law of vegetation zonal distribution, this paper argues that afforestation at high altitudes should comply with the principle of vegetation zonal distribution and the low temperature limitation, and points out that afforestation is feasible only within the forest distribution area and below the altitudes of climate timberlines. Furthermore, we demonstrate the potential spatial areas of afforestation, and determine the local tree species that may be used for afforestation based on the existing problems of afforestation in eastern Tibet. In summary, afforestation in high-altitude areas of the eastern Tibetan Plateau must comply with the law of zonal vegetation distribution, focus on the upper limit of altitude and the selection of suitable tree species, and adopt only suitable native tree species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying granitoids can provide important knowledge on the composition of continental crust and the geodynamic processes of continental growth. Nevertheless, the mechanisms of granitoids formation during continental collision remain uncertain. In this paper, we present new zircon U–Pb–Hf isotope and whole‐rock Sr–Nd isotope compositions, and major‐ and trace‐element data for granitoids from the Chacangka area of the central Lhasa Terrane, southern Tibet. The Chacangka quartz monzonites crystallized at ca. 61 Ma, whereas the monzonites and granites were emplaced at ca. 51 Ma. The quartz monzonites are peraluminous and have high 87Sr/86Sri ratios (0.7129–0.7131), and their low εNd(t) (−7.65 to −7.10) and zircon εHf(t) (−9.3 to −7.5) values are more depleted than those of ancient crustal basement beneath the central Lhasa Terrane, which suggests that they originated from a mixed source of juvenile and ancient lower crust. Compared with the quartz monzonites, the monzonites have much higher contents of MgO (2.34–3.62 wt%) and values of Mg# (42.3–46.3) and zircon εHf(t) (−6.9 to 1.9) and show more depleted Sr–Nd isotopes, indicating that more juvenile materials were involved in their source. The granites have Sr–Nd isotope compositions that are similar to those of the coeval monzonites but have higher SiO2 contents, lower CaO and MgO contents, and lower values of Mg#, suggesting that they were differentiates of the monzonites. The elemental and isotopic compositions of the Chacangka granitoids exhibit a marked transformation from 61 to 51 Ma, probably indicating breakoff of the Neo‐Tethyan oceanic slab. The Neo‐Tethyan slab breakoff not only induced the upwelling of deep material and eruption of magma but also caused re‐melting and destruction of ancient crustal basement of the central Lhasa Terrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Folklor / Edebiyat is the property of Cyprus International University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The geographical scope of the experiment in this paper is Dangxiong in Tibet. The rift basin of Yangbajing-Dangxiong-Gulu locates at the east side of the Nyainqentanglha. The crustal activities in Dangxiong basin are frequent and a great deal of geothermal energy converged under the surface. The geothermic resources were used through the exploitation of underground water. The excessive extraction caused the surface deformation in surrounding areas of the pump wells. In this paper, we investigate the surface deformation caused by the geothermal extraction in Dangxiong with 23 Envisat ASAR images from 2006 to 2010 based on the time series analysis. The results show that the center of the basin was relatively stable. The deformation rate was between -1 mm/yr and 2 mm/yr. The surface subsidence rate of the region with the pump wells was about 8 mm/yr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of tribes in South Asia has been informed by several criteria but all having one aspect in common, that those considered as tribes are viewed as the 'Other' from the point of view of the mainstream populations of India, following the major religions of the sub-continent. These communities are also regarded as ethnically (read racially) distinct and having cultures that set them apart from the dominant Hindu majority. In this paper the discussion will focus on the border tribes of the upper Himalayas, the Bhotiyas and Kinnauries, both pastoral communities engaged in the erstwhile lucrative trans-border trade with Tibet (now China). For centuries Tibet had been at the center of the Tibetan Salt trade that dominated the lives of the communities living on the borders of this specific cold plateau region that was the source of rock salt for all the neighbouring areas constituted by the upper Himalayan regions of India as well as Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim (now part of India). Not only salt but also pashmina, borax, rice and wool were among many coveted items that formed the part of the active trade across the borders with Tibet as the pivot. There has been constant movement of people across the borders and cultural and religious exchanges have taken place over centuries the most important of which has been the travel of Buddhism from India to Tibet and consequently its travel back with Dalai Lama after 1958. Tibetan artisans and even labour crossed borders into areas of Kinnaur and upper Garhwal even as Bhotiya communities and even the Gosains of Bengal and various other interested parties moved to and fro from Tibet on a regular basis. The cultural and political influence of Tibet has been immense and its remnants can be seen even after the closure of the borders after the Indo-China war and the annexation of Tibet. The influence of Buddhism has in fact intensified with the migration of the Dalai Lama along with his followers in 1958. But in the present times the symbolic association with Tibet is causing unease among the tribal border communities on the Indian side of the border. In this paper I shall briefly sketch the historical outline of the political shifts along the border and how the influence of Tibet and its culture and religion has varied over time and what is its present status. The focus is on how the tribes construct their identity and how it differs radically from the identity that is created for and about them by those who hold the keys to power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the Tibetan Gesar epic beyond its text and bards. It begins with a synopsis of the epic itself and reviews some of the multilingual literature on the Gesar tradition with attention to translations, storytellers and poetics, and questions of historicity. But heritage regimes shape broader knowledge of traditional practices. Using proverbs and localized micro-narratives, this paper recognizes an ecosystem of Gesar-related genres, suggesting how epic knowledge extends beyond heritage epistemologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A narrative of extremely pervasive rangeland degradation that underlies ongoing state policy on range management and pastoralism widely circulates in scientific reports, policy statements and news reports in China. Adopting a political ecology approach, this paper critically analyses official reports on rangeland degradation through a case study from the Tibet Autonomous Region. It reveals internally inconsistent or contradictory figures and statements regarding the magnitude and extent of rangeland degradation, and points out political‐economic factors influencing official reports on rangeland degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper targets the heating needs of small, scattered and remote residential areas in the Tibetan Plateau. Considering the severe cold, high altitude, high radiation intensity, long sunshine duration and large temperature difference between day and night, etc. in this region, through the comparative analysis of the performance of heating terminals and heat source systems, it is proposed in this paper that the multi-energy complementary intelligent energy and clean heating approach can effectively reduce operating and maintenance costs, mitigate pollutant emissions and improve the indoor heating environment. Then, with Pagri Town, Shigatse City, Tibet as the pilot area, the multi-energy complementary smart energy and clean heating approach (with solar energy storage heat pump as the heat source + radiators as the heating terminal) was actually applied in the project. Through analysis of the indoor and outdoor temperature changes, electricity consumption and operating costs during the heating period of the pilot project, it is finally concluded that the heating model with solar energy storage heat pump as the heat source + radiators as the heating terminal is a rational choice for the heating systems for small, scattered and remote residential areas in the Tibetan Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The severe geological and environmental conditions along the Sichuan-Tibet railway easily lead to unfavorable events that place construction safety at risk. To comprehensively identify the risks associated with this project, this paper proposes a novel model-based systems engineering (MBSE) method that employs Department of Defense architecture framework (DoDAF) artifacts. In this method, system modeling is applied to risk management, and model analysis is performed to identify the risks in a project and their related factors. This method is closely related to the engineering process and can be applied to all stages of the entire project life cycle. The Jinjiguan No. 2 tunnel project was taken as a case study to demonstrate the application of this method. The task model, structure view, and activity view of this project were established using Systems Modeling Language (SysML). By analyzing the system behavior deviations that emerged during the engineering activities, the potential major risk events in tunnel construction, including collapse, water gushing, and explosions, were identified. The status and behavior of system components were examined from various perspectives to identify the risk factors that may emerge during tunnel construction. The results showed that the proposed method can efficiently develop system models, capture the structure and behavior of a railway engineering system, and accurately identify the risks faced by the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tunnels with high-temperature rocks are built in seismically active areas, which may suffer heavy damages in earthquakes. This paper aims to explore the thermal insulation effect and seismic isolation effect layer of the thermal insulation layer in high-temperature tunnels. Firstly, taking Jiwoxiga tunnel in Tibet, China as the research background, the finite difference models are established to investigate temperature fields, seismic response, and structural safety of the tunnel. Then, the two most commonly used insulation layers are applied to the support structure to study the thermal insulation effect and seismic isolation effect of the layers. Besides, the effect of factors including the thickness, elastic modulus, surrounding rock, and boundary temperature on the application of the layer are investigated in detail. The result shows that the application of the thermal insulation layer has isolated the geothermal and seismic motion propagating from the rock to linings, thus improving the structural safety of the high-temperature tunnel when encountering strong earthquakes. The thermal insulation effect of the layer in the high-temperature tunnel enhances with the increasing thickness of the layer, and its seismic isolation behaviour enhances with the increasing of the layer thickness and elastic modulus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On September 7, 2017, a slope failure occurred in Zhimei village, Chengduo County, Qinghai Province, China. This event involved the failure of 2.4 × 104 m3 of soil from the source area. The displaced mass traveled about 480 m with a vertical distance of approximately 80 m. Based on field investigation and numerical analysis, the failure mechanism and propagation process of Zhimei earthflow were analyzed. The results indicated that seasonal freeze–thaw cycles and sustained rainfall in the rainy season before the slope failure could be the leading causes of slope instability, and a short-term cold snap that coincided with this slope failure may play a secondary role in causing the event. The DAN3D simulation results estimated that the movement process of Zhimei earthflow could last for approximately 800 s with an average displacement rate of 0.6 m/s. A combined Bingham model demonstrated the best performance in reproducing this event. The results in this paper could contribute to drawing some valuable conclusions, which can be used in the future for enhancing the accuracy of hazard assessment for areas with topographical and climatic characteristics similar to those of this case on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesozoic and Cenozoic granites are widely distributed in the South Lhasa terrane of southern Tibet and record information about subduction of the Tethys oceanic plate and the India–Eurasia collision. This paper presents petrological, geochemical, zircon U–Pb and Hf isotopic characteristics of Cenozoic intrusive rocks in the Luocang area, South Lhasa terrane. Our data show these granites have ages of 54.4 ± 0.5 Ma and 47.2 ± 0.3 Ma (early Eocene), and are high-K, calc-alkaline, peraluminous, differentiated, I-type granites. The εHf(t) values of two samples are −9.59 to −4.15 and −7.85 to −5.36. These results suggest that the granites were derived from melting of the crust with no input of mantle source material. A review of data from Cenozoic granites of the South Lhasa terrane shows that they formed in a tectonic environment characterised by a gradual west-to-east transition to a post-collisional setting and are associated with breakoff of the Neo-Tethys oceanic plate. During the early Eocene continental collision, breakoff of the Neo-Tethys oceanic lithosphere caused the Indian plate to fold back resulting in a major asthenospheric disturbance. This was accompanied by an input of heat to the overlying continental crust, which caused melting of the mid to lower crust of the Lhasa terrane. The ascending magma underwent fractional crystallisation and was intruded to form the Eocene granites in the Luocang area. Two granitoids in the Luocang area of the South Lhasa terrane (southern Tibet) are high-K, calc-alkaline, peraluminous, differentiated, I-type granites and have negative εHf(t) values (−10 to −4). The U–Pb zircon ages of these two granitoids are 54.4 ± 0.5 Ma and 47.2 ± 0.3 Ma (early Eocene). The Luocang granites were formed by mantle heat input into the lower to middle crust of the Lhasa terrane; these crustal melts underwent fractional crystallisation during emplacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 200 years since its initial exploration, Zanda Basin, a high-elevation (3,800–4,500 m above sea), intermountain basin at the foothills of the Himalaya, is the site to some of the earliest fossil discoveries, including the holotype of extinct Tibetan antelope, Qurliqnoria hundesiensis. These fossils also hold the record, in 1823, as the first vertebrate fossils from Tibet in the scientific literature. Unfortunately, these tantalising early records have become all but forgotten for more than 100 years due to a lack of information about their localities. Our recent explorations in the 2000s revive the interests in Zanda Basin and establish a unique Zanda mammal assemblage important in the evolution of Tibetan Neogene mammals. In this paper, we retrace the expedition routes by early explorers and attempt to establish, to the extent possible, the type locality of two key mammals in the Zanda fauna: Q. hundesiensis and Hipparion (Plesiohipparion) zandaense. We highlight the pivotal role Zanda fossil mammals play in the early discourse of mountain building, climate change, and mammal adaptation in high Himalaya, more than a hundred years before Chinese palaeontologists made a similar argument upon the discovery of three-toed horses, in the 1980s, at different basins in Tibet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on fieldwork by the author conducted in Tibetan cultural areas of the Indian Himalayas, this paper explores Himalayan understandings of what defines a fairy tale, in contrast to the Western understanding. In parts of the Himalayas, a distinction is made between “lakshung” (fairy tales) and “kyakshung”, which are shorter stories, the kind one might tell over tea. In light of the proposals to record and disseminate many of these stories using new media, this paper seeks to examine these genre definitions and investigates the various contexts in which these stories are told. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a basic industry in Tibet Autonomous Region, the development of agriculture and animal husbandry circular economy is of great practical significance, which is actively reflected in national high-quality development and new agriculture and animal husbandry circular model. The development direction and future trend directly determine the promotion and enhancement of regional agriculture and animal husbandry economy, which is highly valued and welcomed by academic circles. This paper mainly expounds the development connotation of agriculture and animal husbandry circular economy system from the perspective of Tibet's agriculture and animal husbandry economic development. It focuses on sorting out the construction and future direction of circular economy development system, effectively puts forward ideas and comprehensive understanding of the circular economy development system of agriculture and animal husbandry in Tibet, effectively promotes the promotion and basic change of circular economy of agriculture and animal husbandry, and effectively changes the traditional development model and new innovation model of agriculture and animal husbandry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being the smallest branch of Buddhism worldwide, Vajrayana Buddhism is the majority religion in Tibet, Mongolia, and Bhutan, where it wields significant religious and political power. This power has traditionally been concentrated among a small number of lamas, most notably the Dalai Lama, who upon their passing are replaced by a successor in accordance with traditional rituals. Since Tibet came under control of China in 1950, the Chinese Communist Party has sought to gain complete control over Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism, coopting these leadership institutions by installing its own puppet lamas. However, the flight of the current Dalai Lama from the Tibetan capital Lhasa in 1959 led to the exodus of Tibetans to India, where a government-in- exile was established in Dharamsala. This government, which derives its legitimacy from the Dalai Lama, represents the interests of the Tibetan people, including challenging Chinese rule over Tibet. The current Dalai Lama is now an octogenarian, and his passing will create a religious power vacuum at the core of Vajrayana Buddhism. This paper explores several possible outcomes of this religious power vacuum, and whether Vajrayana Buddhism can maintain its integrity and autonomy moving forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicago sativa is the most widely cultivated forage legume and one of the most economically valuable crops throughout the world. Qingda no.1 (Medicago sativa L. cv. Qingda no.1) is an excellent alfalfa local variety with strong cold, drought and salt resistance in the three rivers source area of Qinghai. In this study, the whole chloroplast (cp) genome of Qingda no.1 was sequenced, assembled and its structure was analysed by the Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology. The results showed that the chloroplast genome of Qingda no.1 exhibits no obvious typical quadripartite structure; the total length of the chloroplast genome is 125 637 bp; the chloroplast genome contained 111 genes, including 77 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes, with an overall GC content of 38.33%. The relative synonymous codon usage showed that 68.67% of the codons RSCU > 1 in Qingda no.1, with the preference ending with A and T. The simple sequence repeat (SSR) analysis identified 62 SSR loci. The phylogenetic analysis of the cp genome, Qingda no.1 clustered closely with Medicago sativa KU321683 (Medicago sativa L. cv. KU321683). These results are helpful for the further study of the Qingda no.1 adaptation mechanism to high altitude stress environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the results of The Second Comprehensive Scientific Expedition on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the balance of solid and liquid water on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is disturbed, and a large amount of solid water, such as glaciers and perpetual snow, is transformed into liquid water, which aggravates the risk of flood disasters in the Plateau. Based on the historical flood disaster records of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, this paper analyzed the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of the flood disasters in the Plateau, and estimated the critical rainfall for the flood disasters combined with precipitation data from the meteorological stations in each basin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The results show that most of the flood disaster events in the Plateau are caused by precipitation, and the average annual occurrence of flood disasters is more than 30 cases and their frequency is on the rise. The high frequency areas of flood disasters in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are mainly in the Hehuang Valley and the Hengduan Mountains area; the secondary high frequency areas are located in the valley area of South Tibet and the peripheral area of the Hehuang valley. Finally, we found that the highest critical rainfall value of flood disasters in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is in the southern area of the plateau, followed by the eastern and southeastern parts of the plateau, and the lowest values are in the central, western and northern parts of the Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Everyone has a different identity based on multiple aspects. So, this paper attempts to study Tibetan refugees in the Indian Himalayas and what identity and essence of Tibetan really is. Being a Tibetan does not necessarily mean speaking their language, following a specific religion or belonging to a specific place. What binds them to the Tibetan identity even after being in a foreign land? To find the answers, open ended interview schedule was used with some in-depth case studies. Respondents were chosen from Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and West Bengal. The case studies analyse the shared experience of the refugees who made their escape from Tibet. The identity for them is not tied to many things, keeping their goals and loyalty is the main priority their identity is based on the values and teachings of His Holiness. Many refugees risked their lives and came to India just be close to their leader. Tibet before had different dialects from different regions but now they have made a simple language that all the Tibetans can understand. Keeping intact to the Tibetan identity is the key to survival and unity of the refugee population which is scattered all over the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is the core element of health-related physical fitness evaluation. High pressure and low oxygen in Tibet (over 3,500 m above sea level) may negatively impact the residents' CRF. The 20-m shuttle run test (20mSRT) is the most popular field-based assessment and estimate of CRF in children and adolescents worldwide. However, normative CRF data for the children and adolescents residing in China's plateau region are unavailable, which prevents comparability among those living at high-altitudes around the world. Purpose: To measure the CRF of Chinese children and adolescents aged 9–18 years living in Tibet at altitudes exceeding 3,500 m, and to identify correlations between this metric and demographic characteristics (age, sex, and ethnicity). These data were then compared with those generated in the lowland (Shanghai, China) and various global regions. Methods: 20mSRT performance (number of completed laps) and predicted peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) were used as indicators of CRF. We measured the CRF of 1,717 healthy children and adolescents aged 9–18 years living in Tibet. The CRF data from school-age subjects in Shanghai (2,437 boys and 2,396 girls) and worldwide (1,142,026 students from 50 countries/regions in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America, and Oceania) were collated from published papers. Results: The average CRF of the participants from Tibet was 39.8 mL/kg/min. The male subjects (n = 876; 41.1 ± 4.42 mL/kg/min) had a higher average CRF than their female counterparts (n = 841; 37.8 ± 5.40 mL/kg/min). CRF decreased with age in both sexes at statistical significance (F = 1249.9, p for trend 0.05). The indigenous Tibetans (n = 1289; 40.1 ± 3.71 mL/kg/min) had a significant higher average CRF than those of Han descent (n = 394; 38.9 ± 4.70 mL/kg/min) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Children and adolescents aged 7–18 years residing above 3,500 m in Tibet displayed lower CRF traits compared with their counterparts from the plains area and other high altitude places. CRF varied according to age, sex, and ethnic group. Given the importance of CRF in children and adolescents, effective intervention strategies should be implemented to improve CRF in children and adolescents on the plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plagiogranites in ophiolites are minor in volume but can provide crucial information for the origin and tectonic evolution of ancient oceanic lithosphere. This paper presents the geochronology and geochemistry of a newly discovered plagiogranite in the Shiquanhe ophiolite, from the west end of the Shiquanhe‐Jiali ophiolite sub‐belt, Bangong Suture, central Tibet. Zircon U–Pb dating of two samples yields Middle Jurassic ages (167.4 ± 1.2 Ma and 167.5 ± 1.5 Ma). The plagiogranite has positive whole‐rock εNd(t) (4.2–4.9) and zircon εHf(t) (9.6–14.3) values, high Th/Nb ratios (0.6–2.8) but relatively low La/Nb ratios (0.9–9.9), indicating that it was possibly derived from a depleted mantle with the contribution of minor subducted sediments. The LREE‐enrichment but HREE‐flat patterns with negative Eu anomalies and negative Nb‐Ti anomalies resemble those of shear‐type plagiogranites, which mean that this rock was likely formed by partial melting of metabasite. Combined with the plagiogranite which does not exhibit chilled contacts against the Shiquanhe ophiolitic metabasite, suggests that the plagiogranite may have been derived from the associated ophiolitic metabasite. Geochemical calculating and modelling indicate that the plagiogranite was possibly produced by a low degree (<10%) partial melting of metabasite and replenished by minor sediments melts at low temperature (<800 °C) and low pressure (<0.1 GPa) conditions. The Shiquanhe plagiogranite, together with the contemporaneous Lagkorco plagiogranite in the same ophiolite sub‐belt, indicates that an intra‐oceanic island arc system was developed in the Bangong Meso‐Tethys during the Middle Jurassic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GNSS/INS integrated navigation and positioning technology is widely used for train operations applications seeking a decrease in dependence on trackside equipment. However, during train operations, environmental factors such as bridges, tunnels, hillsides, and buildings will block the satellite signals. When INS works in a stand-alone mode, the system errors accumulate with time due to the inertial sensor characteristics. To overcome this problem, light detection and ranging (lidar) equipment can be introduced to help control INS divergence. The lidar point cloud data is first processed using the random sample consensus (RANSAC) algorithm to determine the track plane, then the moving average filtering (MAF) algorithm is used to detect and classify the rails. The frogs can be detected based on the changing rail number and the constraint condition for turnout parameters. With the assistance of a previously surveyed turnout database, the geographical positions of the detected frogs can be obtained and integrated with INS data to converge INS sensor errors when GNSS is not available. In this paper a lidar-aided GNSS/INS integrated navigation system is proposed that can ensure continuous positioning in both GNSS-available and GNSS-blocked scenarios. GNSS/INS is applied when the system operates in the GNSS-available scenario, and switches to the INS/lidar mode when the GNSS signals are blocked. To evaluate the performance of the proposed system, an actual train experiment was conducted along the Qinghai-Tibet railway. The results confirm that the proposed lidar-aided navigation system can achieve accurate and continuous positioning. When GNSS is not available, the proposed method can effectively suppress the error of INS with a DRMS of 1.66 m, which is a 70.4% improvement compared with a conventional GNSS/INS integrated system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2006, Tibetan nomads have been resettled into centralised urban settlement towns as part of China's effort at 'Building a New Socialist Countryside' in Tibetan areas. The official narrative of this new policy falls very much within the ambit of neoliberal mantras, such as bringing modernisation, economic efficiency, market-oriented personhood, comfortable living and, most importantly, environmental protection and national security to its west. At the heart of such policies is the idea that the west would remain 'backward' and 'unruly' if left alone or uncared for. In this context, this paper aims to elucidate how a sense of backwardness that ostensibly poses a threat to social and political stability is transformed into the spatial and social reorganisation of Tibetan pastoral regions. Drawing on my ethnographic research in the summer of 2012, this paper takes the newly built resettlement village in Jentsa (established in 2009), Amdo, as a case study to explore how a multitude of actors on the ground have come to view, respond, and cope with this new policy by simultaneously relying on and incorporating the new space, and by constituting alternative forms of participation and social space. I argue that, if we are to understand the multiplicity of interactions and actors at play in the process of implementing nomadic settlement project in Tibetan areas in general, and in Jentsa in particular, we need to develop models of understanding these relationships that acknowledge their complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A great number of gravels exist in the sliding zone soil of ancient landslides in the eastern margin of Tibet Plateau, which play an important role in the strength of the sliding zone soil. Determination of the mobilized strength of the gravelly sliding zone soil is the key to stability evaluation and disaster prevention for reactivated ancient landslides. Taking the Jiangdingya (JDY) ancient landslide reactivated in 2018 as a typical case, the mobilized strength of gravelly sliding zone soil is studied through laboratory tests and back analysis in this paper. The results indicate that: (1) After long-distance shearing, the cementation between soil particles is gradually lost, and the residual strength is mainly controlled by the sliding friction resistance between soil particles. The higher the gravel content, the greater the residual strength. A positive linear correlation can be established between the friction coefficient and the shear surface roughness. Due to the existence of gravels, the shear surface friction resistance increases, leading to the increase of residual strength. (2) The statistical analysis shows that the residual internal friction angle φr of gravelly sliding zone soil is controlled by both the clay and gravel content, which is significantly different from the clayey sliding zone soil dominated by the clay content. It is suggested that the ratio of gravel to clay content can be used as an index to evaluate the residual internal friction angel of gravelly sliding zone soil. (3) The mobilized strength of ancient landslides is generally greater than the residual strength, but slightly less than the recovery strength. The sliding zone soil strength has gradually attenuated from the recovery strength to the residual strength before reactivation. The ancient landslide is in a creeping state as a whole. Under the action of external forces, the strength of sliding zone soil is likely to decrease rapidly, which triggers accelerated sliding of ancient landslides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lower Jurassic clastic rocks in the Qiangtang Basin, northern Tibet, are generally regarded as the early sediments of the new Mesozoic Qiangtang Basin (Late Triassic to Early Cretaceous). However, little attention has been paid to the palaeoenvironment, provenance, and tectonic setting of this unit. The QZ‐16 well, located in the east of the northern Qiangtang Basin, firstly recovered the Lower Jurassic strata (Quemo Co Formation) in the Qiangtang Basin. In this paper, the whole‐rock major‐trace elemental characteristics of 34 mudstone samples and detrital zircon geochronology of one sandstone, collected from the Quemo Co Formation of the QZ‐16 well, are reported in order to infer the palaeoenvironment, provenance, and tectonic setting. Quemo Co mudstones are dominated by SiO2 and Al2O3, while Fe2O3, CaO, K2O, and MgO are the second most abundant oxides. They are generally characterized by high REE concentrations, enrichment in light rare earth elements (LREEs), marked negative Eu and Ce anomalies. The REE contents of the mudstones are mainly controlled by terrigenous detrital minerals input. The Lower Jurassic mudstones have relatively high chemical index of alteration (79.1–83.6) values, indicating moderate to high degree of chemical weathering conditions of the source area. Sr/Ba and Rb/K ratios reflect that the marine transgression impact was limited and the mudstones were generally deposited in a brackish water environment. Major, trace, and REE contents indicate that the mudstones were mainly derived from intermediate igneous rocks with subordinate felsic igneous rocks. Prominent age peaks at ca. 200 ~ 400 Ma, 700 ~ 970 Ma, 1,700 ~ 1,900 Ma, and 2,100 ~ 2,700 Ma of the detrital zircon grains suggest that the Lower Jurassic clastic rocks were derived from the Central Qiangtang and Songpan–Ganzi complex. Moreover, tectonic discrimination diagrams based on major and trace elements show that the source of the Lower Jurassic sediments were most likely derived from a collision tectonic setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tibetan Plateau observatory (Tibet-Obs) of plateau scale soil moisture and soil temperature was established 10 years ago and has been widely used to calibrate/validate satellite- and model-based soil moisture (SM) products for their applications to the Tibetan Plateau (TP). This paper reports on the status of the Tibet-Obs and presents a 10-year (2009–2019) surface SM dataset produced based on in situ measurements taken at a depth of 5 cm collected from the Tibet-Obs that consists of three regional-scale SM monitoring networks, i.e. the Maqu, Naqu, and Ngari (including Ali and Shiquanhe) networks. This surface SM dataset includes the original 15 min in situ measurements collected by multiple SM monitoring sites of the three networks and the spatially upscaled SM records produced for the Maqu and Shiquanhe networks. Comparisons between four spatial upscaling methods – i.e. arithmetic averaging, Voronoi diagrams, time stability, and apparent thermal inertia – show that the arithmetic average of the monitoring sites with long-term (i.e. ≥ 6-year) continuous measurements is found to be most suitable to produce the upscaled SM records. Trend analysis of the 10-year upscaled SM records indicates that the Shiquanhe network in the western part of the TP is getting wet, while there is no significant trend found for the Maqu network in the east. To further demonstrate the uniqueness of the upscaled SM records in validating existing SM products for a long-term period (∼10 years), the reliability of three reanalysis datasets is evaluated for the Maqu and Shiquanhe networks. It is found that current model-based SM products still show deficiencies in representing the measured SM dynamics in the Tibetan grassland (i.e. Maqu) and desert ecosystems (i.e. Shiquanhe). The dataset would also be valuable for calibrating/validating long-term satellite-based SM products, evaluation of SM upscaling methods, development of data fusion methods, and quantifying the coupling of SM and precipitation at a 10-year scale. The dataset is available in the 4TU.ResearchData repository at 10.4121/12763700.v7 (Zhang et al., 2020). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate rockbursts in deep-lying long tunnels, a multiple factor analysis and predictions were conducted. It is necessary to establish whether the primary evaluation indexes cover the entire development–occurrence–evolution process for rockbursts and how best to determine the weights of the final selected indexes. We developed an evaluation model with attribute reduction and chose 5 out of 11 primary evaluation indexes to cover the typical characteristics of energy storage, rockburst proneness, and risk of failure. The weights of the primary evaluation indexes and the offset distance were then determined using the entropy weight ideal point method. Combining geostress field inversion and rock mechanic tests, the evaluation model was applied to the case of the Sangzhuling Tunnel along the Sichuan–Tibet railway. Rockburst prediction results achieved 41.2% and 94.1% accuracy when using the Manhattan and Euclidean distance functions, respectively. A more specific classification of the evaluation indexes may optimize the weight assignment and help obtain more accurate results. This paper provides a reliable method for rockburst predictions for hard rock and deep-lying long tunnels, which may have good prospects for engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using admixtures to replace part of cement can effectively reduce environmental pollution. Many concrete gravity dams have been planned for Tibet, where the resource of fly ash (FA) is scarce but the resource of tuff is abundant. Compared with the more mature and widely used FA concrete in gravity dams, the application of tuff concrete is rare, and the hardening mechanism of the cement–tuff binary cementation system and the performance of tuff concrete still need to be further studied. In view of this, the hydration and hardening mechanism of the cement–tuff binary cementation system using varying percentages of tuff contents (0%, 25%, and 50%) are discussed, and the mechanical properties (e.g., strength, modulus) and durability performance (e.g., freeze-thaw, carbonization) of tuff normal concrete are investigated in this paper. The microstructure of the cement–tuff system shows that additional tuff powder promotes the hydration of clinker in cement, which increases the calcium hydroxide content [ Ca(OH)2 ] and leads to a higher porosity at early curing age. Results show that the amount of tuff content is almost positively correlated with porosity. The additional tuff in concrete increases the earlier splitting tensile strength, ultimate tensile value, and drying shrinkage, which also slightly reduces the frost resistance and little affects the compressive strength, tensile strength, elastic modulus, impermeability, and carbonation depth. Tuff normal concrete shows better performance than FA concrete in some aspects. The results show that tuff materials can be used to replace FA, and tuff normal concrete can be applied to the construction of concrete gravity dams in areas where fly ash is scarce and tuff is abundant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent scholarship on the lived experiences of borderlands has foregrounded and theorized the pervasiveness of anxiety, violence, and lawlessness. While useful, these do not capture all of the ways in which borderland residents relate to diverse constellations of power. This paper examines the China (Tibet Autonomous Region) – Nepal borderland through the case of the Limi Valley, in the northwest corner of Nepal's Humla district. Before 1959, the valley was considered part of Nepalese territory, yet its residents belonged administratively to the Tibetan government, an arrangement at odds with contemporary understandings of state territorial sovereignty. The non-postcolonial state formations of Nepal and China have created their own specific forms of border citizenship and overlapping sovereignties. The article shows how multiple sovereignties can stretch beyond state borders in unexpected ways by tracing how Limi Valley residents negotiate overlapping sovereignties of the Nepali and Chinese states, as well as the non-state sovereignty of the Tibetan government-in-exile. Furthermore, it demonstrates that these in turn overlap with a form of social sovereignty grounded in the community's body of laws, codes, and practices, which are at once a historically sedimented trace of Limi's governance before the nation-state, and a product of navigating political transformations. However, challenges to this social sovereignty, expressed through the idiom of statist law, have recently emerged. Whereas states typically exert sovereign power in borderlands by restricting mobility, some Limi villagers now selectively invoke state sovereignty through law to enable greater mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]