China enhances weather monitoring in Tibetan Plateau following Nepal-originated mudslide

China's meteorological authorities will strengthen monitoring and early-warning capabilities across the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding high-altitude areas following a deadly mudslide that originated in Nepal, focusing on improving forecasts in remote and extreme environments.

Chen Zhenlin, head of the China Meteorological Administration, called for meteorological services to be closely aligned with rescue and relief needs after the mudslide hit Gyirong county in the Xizang autonomous region.

The administration said at a meeting on Friday that it would strengthen monitoring and forecasting for high-altitude and cold regions, where complex terrain and rapidly changing weather can make conventional forecasting particularly difficult. Meteorological authorities will make greater use of Fengyun weather satellites, weather radar, and other observation equipment, combining data from multiple sources to improve assessments of rainfall, the CMA said, aiming to provide more precise assessments of weather impacts and support safer and more effective rescue operations.

It also plans to strengthen monitoring, forecasting, and scientific research across the Third Pole, referring to the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding high mountains, which contain the world's largest concentration of glaciers outside the polar regions. The administration will optimize the distribution of meteorological stations across the plateau and improve early-warning systems for extreme weather, while strengthening forecasting capabilities ranging from short-term and imminent weather forecasts to longer-term outlooks. It will also improve meteorological services under difficult conditions, such as power, road, or telecommunications outages.

The administration plans to expand research into climate warming, coordinate research resources, and establish mechanisms for sharing information on meteorological monitoring and early warnings related to the cryosphere, including glaciers, snow, and permafrost. The CMA also said it would actively participate in surveys of glacier and glacial-lake resources across the Tibetan Plateau.

The focus on the Third Pole comes as scientists warn that climate change is rapidly altering the region's glaciers, permafrost, and water systems, potentially increasing the risks of cascading hazards such as glacier collapses, debris flows, and glacial lake outburst floods. Chen called for strict implementation of information reporting, monitoring and early-warning, international cooperation, and public science communication requirements. The administration also pledged to provide authoritative information to the public and expand education on disaster preparedness and risk avoidance.