Integrated System Analysis to Understand the Implications of the Asian Monsoon System on the Tibetan Hydrology with Focus on Nam Co Basin

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Wolfgang-Albert Flügel; Professor Dr. Volker Hochschild
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: from 2008 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 68892139

The Tibetan Plateau has an outstanding relevance for the global climate dynamics through its impact on the Asian monsoon system, which in turn causes feedbacks to the vulnerable Tibetan ecosystem. Considering global climate change, little knowledge is given on the impact of the monsoon dynamics on the eco-hydrological system, but evidence of melting glaciers and permafrost as well as increasing evapotranspiration rates indicate significant system changes regarding water availability. The main objective of this research study is the development of an integrated system analysis approach in order to understand the hydrological implications of the Asian monsoon system on the Nam Co Basin, linking lake level fluctuations with water balance modelling of its tributaries. Integrated field studies, geostatistics, remote sensing and GIS techniques will provide the spatio-temporal data, parameter and information required for distributed, process-oriented hydrological modelling, utilizing the J2000 model. This will result in a prognostic assessment of the impact of climate change affected monsoon dynamics on the water balance of Tibetan basins.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1372: Tibetan Plateau: Formation - Climate - Ecosystems (TiP)
• International Connection: China
• Participating Persons: Dr. Joerg Helmschrot; Professor Dr. Chunsheng Hu; Professor Shichang Kang; Dr. Peter Krause; Professor Dr. Jingshi Liu; Professor Dr. Yaoming Ma; Professor Dr. Tandong Yao; Professorin Dr. Li Zheng