Crustal Motion Characteristics in the Eastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau and Adjacent Regions after the Wenchuan Earthquake

The Wenchuan earthquake has altered the crustal motion characteristics in the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau and adjacent regions.Using discontinuous GPS survey data for 2008–2012, the velocity field for the Eurasia reference framework has been obtained, and the general trend of contemporary crustal motion after the occurrence of the Wenchuan earthquake has been studied.In addition, using the velocity field, the block movement velocity has been estimated by least-squares fitting.Furthermore, the properties and displacement rates of main faults have been obtained from the differences in velocity vectors of the blocks on both sides of the faults.The results reveal that there are no obvious changes in the general characteristics of crustal motion in this area after the Wenchuan earthquake.The earthquake mainly changed the rate of the movement of the Chuan-Qing block and caused variation in the movement direction of the South China block.The effect of the earthquake on faults is mainly reflected in variations in fault displacement velocity; there is no fundamental change in the properties of fault activity.The displacement rates of the Xianshuihe fault decreased by 3–4 mm/a, the Longmenshan fault increased by 9–10 mm/a, and the northern segment of the Anninghe fault increased by approximately 9 mm/a.Furthermore, the displacement rates of the Minjiang, Xueshan, Huya, Longquanshan, and Xinjin faults increased by 2–3 mm/a.This implies that the effects of the Wenchuan earthquake on crustal movement can mainly be observed in the Chuan-Qing, South China, and N-Chuan-Dian blocks and their internal faults, as well as the Xianshuihe and Longmenshan faults and the northern section of the Anninghe fault.The reason for this is that the Wenchuan earthquake disturbed the kinematic and dynamic balance in the region.

Minority population and sustainable development in mountain regions a case study of the Tibetan inhabited region in Sichuan, China

China boasts 56 nationalities who are mostly inhabited in the sparsely populated mountain regions in West China. Like many other places in the Han nationality distributed regions, minority nationality inhabited regions are also facing the challenge of sustainable development in terms of both natural and human factors. Taking the Tibetan inhabited regions (TIR) in Sichuan Province as a case, this paper points out some major problems in the process of economic development in perspective of sustainability and leaves some hints for development strategies. While natural conditions such as geological instability are playing a major role to the environmental degradation, human activities and improper use of resources might constitute an important agent in the environmental deterioration. In order to promote local economic development and improve people’s living standard, sustainable planning is expected to be made and people’s awareness of sustainability should be strengthened.

A Quantitative Analysis on Grassland Animal Husbandry of Sichuan Tibetan Region after the Liberation

[ Objective ] To study economic growth of grassland animal husbandry in Sichuan Tibetan region after the liberation and predict long-term trend and regular features of growth and development of grassland animal husbandry. [ Method] Using econometric models and methods, the gov- ernment statistical data after the liberation on grassland animal husbandry of Sichuan Tibetan region were analyzed, and the factors increasing econ- omy of grassland animal husbandry were determined by analyzing time series data of different periods. [ Result] The grassland animal husbandry of Sichuan Tibetan region had significant characteristics of traditional pastoral economy. Before the reform and opening-up, the increase of animal hus- bandry economy was mainly manifested by increase in amount of livestock and laborers, and the increase in amount of livestock was principal pro- moting factor. After the reform and opening-up, the increase in integrated production factors became the primary cause to push the increase of ani- mal husbandry economy. [ Conclusion] Some new measures must be taken to promote the increase of animal husbandry economy of Sichuan Tibetan region, including transforming traditional production mode of animal husbandry, relying on scientific and technological advances, further improving socio- economic system, cultivating more highly sldlled workforce and effectively guiding rational shift and orderly migration of surplus pasture laborers.

Construction Techniques of Wooden Dwelling Column Frame in Tibetan Regions of Yunnan Province, China

Column frame of folk dwellings with slope roof in Tibetan regions of Yunnan Province was studied. Through field investigation and surveying, column frame timber, main components and construction techniques were introduced. The research showed that column frame of slope-roof dwelling in Tibetan regions of Yunnan is a regional construction technique using timber as the major materials, tenon-and-mortise work as the major connection, characterized by excellent structural expandability, and shock resistance, but it has no quantitative technical support. Scientific and systemic study is needed to improve safeness and livability of local dwellings.

China to Boost Economic,Social Development in Tibetan Regions

China＇s State Council held an executive meeting on Oct. 15, 2008, discussing how to support development in the Tibetan regions of Qinghai, Sichuan, Yunnan and Gansu provinces. Tibetan regions in these areas are autonomous where Tibetans and people of other nationalities live together. The regions are the important plateau ecological bar- rier that cover the head-stream area of major rivers, such as the Yellow, Yangtze and Lancang.

The Tibetan Opera Troupe of Tibet Autonomous Region

The Tibetan Opera Troupe of TibetAutonomous Region was established in1960 on the basis of the JormulongTroupe.After sorting and revising thetraditional Tibetan operas,the troupe haspresented some traditional items,such asPrincess Wencheng,King Norsang,NangsaVibum,Sukyi Nima,Drooa Sangmu,BemaVenba and Chimi Gundan.While revisingtraditional programs,the troupe has ad-ded stage props,makeup,lighting and aband for musical accompaniment.Thishas increased the artistic appeal of theTibetan opera,making it a more compre-hensive stage art.The revised version of Nangsa Vibumwon an award from the Ministry of Cul-ture at a national theatrical performancefestival,and the playscript of Sukyi

School Education and Inheritance of Ethnic Culture in Minority Areas-Take School Education in Tibetan Areas as an Example

Ethnic education is an important way to inherit ethnic culture.Under the background of cultural globalization and cultural diversification,minority cultures are facing the danger of extinction and change.Schools in minority areas give full play to their own advantages and become the main places to train students to master ethnic culture in a purposeful,planned,and organized way.However,there are also many problems in school education in the inheritance of national culture,such as the content of school education and national culture cannot be effectively integrated,teachers lack scientific and effective teaching methods,teaching activities content cannot be flexibly used.In this regard,we should excavate the national cultural resources in school education,improve the professional quality and skills of teachers,and enhance the national consciousness of teachers,so as to improve the quality of school education and realize the effective inheritance of national culture.Taking Tibetan areas as an example,this paper analyzes the advantages,existing problems,and solutions of the school in Tibetan cultural traditions.

Zircon SHRIMP geochronology and Nd-Pb isotopic characteristics of the meta-basalt in the central part of Tibetan Plateau's Qiangtang region

A small-sized meta-basic rock system is discovered in Qilongwuru Gully of Central Qiangtang’s Shuanghu region and contains a meta-basalt and garnet-bearing plagioclase amphibolite.The zircon U/Pb age of this meta-basalt by SHRIMP analysis is463.3±4.7 Ma,suggesting that this lava formed in the Middle Ordovician,and is consistent with that of the meta-basic rocks in the Taoxing Lake and Guoganjianian Mountain ophiolite found in the Qiangtang plate.As this lava system bears similar geochemistry to N-MORB,it might be a component of ophiolite that represents the trail of the extinction of the Proto-Tethys,suggesting that the formation of Proto-Tethys oceanic basin in the Longmu Co-Shuanghu suture zone could date as far back as to the Middle Ordovician.Isotopic geochemical analysis indicates that the magma source area consists of both depleted mantle(DM)and enriched mantle(EMII)end members and bears Dupal anomaly,similar to that of the Paleo-Tethys in the Neo-Tethys represented by the Yarlung-Tsangpo suture zone,the Paleo-Tethys represented by the Changning-Menglian suture zone,and the Paleo-Tethys in Sanjiang region.This suggests that they have inherited the attribute of the Proto-Tethys mantle domain,and the Longmu Co-Shuanghu suture zone may be a representative of the northern boundary of Gondwana.

THE TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL VARIATION OF STABLE ISOTOPES IN PRECIPITATION ON THE TIBETAN PLATEAU AND ITS ADJACENT REGIONS

The temporal and spatial variation on the stable isotopic compositions in precipitation and the relationship with temperature,precipitation and vapor sources are analyzed for the Tibetan Plateau and its adjacent regions.There is no temperature effect in the southern Tibetan Plateau and South Asia.Amount effect has been observed at a few sampling stations that account for about a half of the statistical stations.However,the seasonal variations on the stable isotopic compositions in precipitation at those stations are inconsistent with that of precipitation intensity.There is notable temperature effect in the middle and northern Tibetan Plateau and its adjacent Northwest China.It has been observed that the seasonal variations of the δ^(18)O in precipitation are almost consistent with those of air temperature in these regions.Because vapor is directly originated from low- latitude oceans,the relative heavy δ^(18)O with small variation characterizes the rainfall in South Asia.A sharp depletion of the stable isotopic compositions in precipitation takes place from Kyangjin on the southern slop of the Himalayas to the Tanggula Mountains in the middle Plateau. The δ^(18)O reaches minimum due to very strong rainout of the vapor from oceans as the vapor rises over the Himalayas.From the Tanggula Mountains to the northern Tibetan Plateau,the δ^(18)O in precipitation increases with increasing latitude and the isotopic situation in the northern Plateau is transferred into Northwest China with little disruption.

Tibetan Attitudes Towards Community Participation and Ecotourism

Some Tibetan villages in Shenzha county, Tibet were chosen as typical Tibetan communities in China. Attitudes and perceptions towards Tibetan community participation in ecotourism were analyzed using face to face interviews. Most residents supported the development of ecotourism. They are willing to engage in ecotourism projects and accept ecotourism education and training, and expect that the government provides opportunities for them to participate in making ecotourism decisions. Most residents believed that ecotourism promotes local economies and social development, and enhances the ability and quality of local residents while improving their environmental consciousness. However, some residents were concerned that ecotourism may destroy local natural environments and Tibetan folk customs and culture. The level of community participation in ecotourism development is only in its infancy in Shenzha, but there is strong potential. The chief participatory approaches of ecotourism development for most residents were providing labor and catering services and commodities for tourism, and Tibetan performance singing and dancing. Limiting factors include language, a shortage of knowledge and skills, and poor ecotourism infrastructure. Most residents had little confidence that the government was willing to support them to participate in ecotourism. We put forward some mechanisms to enhance the level of community participation in ecotourism in this important region.

The Indian monsoonal influence on altitude effect of δ^(18)O in surface water on southeast Tibetan Plateau

The altitude effect of δ18O is essential for the study of the paleo-elevation reconstruction and possible to be solved through modern process studies. This study presents new δ18O results from southeast Tibetan Plateau along two transects, the Zayu transect and the Lhasa-Nyang transect, with δ18O data from June to September representative of monsoon period and δ18O data during the rest of the year of non-monsoon period. Altitude effect outweighs the longitude and latitude effects in determining regional δ18O variation spatially. Relevant δ18O data from previous studies in the nearby region have also been combined to comprehensively understand the influence of different moisture sources on δ18O from local scale to regional scale. The δ18O in surface water in the southeast Tibetan Plateau and its nearby regions influenced by the Indian summer monsoon shows that single dominant moisture source or simple moisture sources lead to smaller altitudinal lapse rate, whilst growing contributions from local convection to precipitation enlarge δ18O-altitude rate. It thereupon reveals the significance of the Indian summer monsoon to the altitude effect of δ18O in surface water, and the complicated effect of local convection or westerlies evolution to the variation of altitudinal lapse rate. Paleo-monsoon evolution therefore should be considered when altitude effect is applied to paleo-elevation reconstruction for the Tibetan Plateau.