Tibet, Xinjiang and Siberia (TibXS) are regions with active plate tectonics. Evidences from satellite gravimetry and altimetry show the hydrological evolutions over these regions are sensitive to global climate change. For example, inter-annual lake level changes over Tibet and Xinjiang from satellite altimetry are found to be connected to El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Lakes in central Asia originating from Xinjiang and lakes in eastern Siberia show sharp changes in lake levels that can be explained by climate change. Recent terrestrial gravity, GRACE and GPS observations suggest that the crust over the Tibetan plateau is thickening, and the Himalayan glaciers appear to be thawing. Satellite altimetry is a potential tool to study vertical displacement and permafrost thawing and changes in the active layers in Siberia and Tibet. This workshop will bring together scientists to present their research results and thoughts in the fields of, but not limited to, geodynamics, climate change, hydrology, over Tibet, Xinjiang and Siberia using the tools of gravimetry, GPS and satellite altimetry.

Chair:

Cheinway Hwang, National Chiao Tung University

Vice-chair:

WenBin Shen, Wuhan University

Members:

Benjamin Fong Chao, Central University, Taiwan
Kosuke Heki, Hokkaido University, Japan
Houtze Hsu, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
CK Shum, Ohio State University, USA
Wenke Sun, Tokyo University, Japan
Qi Wang, China Earthquake Administration, China

WenBin Shen, Wuhan University
Jinsheng Ning, Wuhan University
Jiancheng Li, Wuhan University

Houtze Hsu, Chinese Academy of Science
Jingnan Liu, Wuhan University

Members:

Bin Tian, Xinjiang Bureau of Surveying and Mapping
Fei Li, Wuhan University
Caijun Xu, Wuhan University
Min Zhong, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Hsiuwen Kao, National Chiao Tung University

Registration and fees

On-site registration on August 20, 2009 is recommended. But the pre-registration is required. The participants are invited to fill in and submit the attached registration form to Dr. H.H.Wang (hhwang@sgg.whu.edu.cn) or Mr. J.C. Han (jch.han@163.com) by e-mail, or by fax (+862768778825), together with the titles of presentations before July 15, 2009.

The registration fee is 200 USD.

Reception and Invitations

Reception: All representatives are invited to attend the reception, from 19:30 to 21:30 on 20 August 2009 (Beijing time). On the reception, wines, beers, soft-drinks, snacks and various fruits are provided.

Dinner Invitations: All representatives are invited to attend two dinners: at 19:30 on 21 August 2009, and at 19:30 on 22 August 2009.

Selected contributions from this workshop and solicited papers are encouraged to submit to a special issue of the SCI-indexed journal "Terrestrial, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (TAO)". The title of the special issue is "Observations and Interpretations of Gravity, GPS and Satellite Altimetry over Tibet, Xinjiang and Siberia". The guest editors are BF Chao, J Freymueller, C Hwang, WB Shen, and CK Shum. The deadline of paper submission is December 31, 2009.

Hotel Mei-Li-Hua(Five-star level): A plenty of two-beds or twin rooms have been reserved for the representatives. A two-beds standard room costs about 520 RMB (74USD), and a two-beds business room costs about 560 RMB (80 USD).

Address: Hotel Mei-Li-Hua, Xinhua North Road 5, Urumqi 830002, China.

* Note: The workshop will be held in the conference hall(s) in the Hotel Mei-Li-Hua.

Introduction to Xinjiang, China

Xinjiang is an autonomous region (Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, http://www.urumqi.gov.cn/home) of the People's Republic of China (PRC). It is a large, sparsely populated area, spanning over 1.6 million sq. km, which takes up about one sixth of the China's territory. Xinjiang borders the Tibet Autonomous Region and India to the south and Qinghai and Gansu provinces to the southeast, Mongolia to the northeast, Russia to the north, and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan to the west. The capital of Xinjiang is Urumqi (Urumqi). Xinjiang is the home of a number of different ethnic groups, the largest of which is the Uyghur people.

Xinjiang is located in the northwest of PRC

History

In ancient China, Xinjiang was simply known as “Xiyu” or “Western Regions” since Han Dynasty, and this name was used in Chinese records for centuries until Qing Dynasty took control of the region and named it “Xinjiang”, which literally means “New Frontier”. The famous “Silk Road”, also called “Silu” in Chinese, just started from the interior of China, crossed Xinjiang and passed through Central Asia, West Asia, Africa and Europe.

Geography and geology

The east-west Tien Shan Mountains separate Dzungaria Basin in the north from the Tarim Basin in the south. Dzungaria is dry steppe. The Tarim is desert surrounded by oases. In the east is the Turfan Depression, which is the lowest point (154 meters below the mean sea level) in PRC. In the west, the Tien Shan splits, forming the Ili River Valley. Geologically, most of Xinjiang is young, having been formed from the collision of the Indian plate with the Eurasian plate, forming the Tian Shan, Kunlun Shan, and Pamir mountain ranges. Xinjiang is rich with tectonic activities and is consequently a major earthquake zone.

Resources

Xinjiang is rich in natural resources, such as biological resources, solar energy, underground water and minerals. There is an ancient underground irrigation system which still works mystically in Xinjiang, the Karez system, which is referred to as “the underground Great Wall.” Thanks to the Karez system and abundance of sunlight, Xinjiang’s various fruits, such as grape, Hami melon, pear, apple etc are very well known far and near, and they have a very promising market prospect. Xinjiang is also well known for the famous Hetian (white) jade (Hetian is a division in Xinjiang), which has a history of at least 7,000 years in China. According to experts, the “Jade Road” existed long before the “Silk Road”, and Chinese emperors all through the ages had their imperial seals carved out of the jade from Hetian.

Fruits in Xinjiang	Karez system

Ornaments made in Hetian jade			Emperor's seal made in Hetain jade (Qing Dynasty)

Tourism

Xinjiang boasts unique tourist resources. With high mountains, glaciers, lakes, grasslands, vast Gobi and deserts, various natural reserves, worldwide known silk road, historical sites, various wonderlands, colorful ethnic customs, culture and arts, Xinjiang attracts the tourists from the world.ddddde.

Canus Lake	Bosten Lake

A diversifolious poplar forest in Tarim Basin	Turfan Basin