2
1 Physical Settings and Water Challenges
Fig. 1.1 China topography Sources MNR, China. Permission granted by MNR on its website
subject to proper citation
grades from west to east, which have significant influence on the distribution of
precipitation and water resources (Fig. 1.1).
The highest terrace in China is the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, generally over 4,000 m
above sea level with a series of parallel mountain ranges and valleys and numerous
snowy peaks. Mountain ranges include the Kunlun, the Karakorum, the Altun, the
Qilian, the Tanggula, the Gangdise, the Himalayas, and the Hengduan Mountains.
The area also features many lakes. The highest mountain peak in the world, Mount
Everest of the Himalayas, is 8,844 m. On the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, because of the
high elevation, the atmosphere is thin, and precipitation is scarce. At the edge of the
plateau, the intensive upward airflow brings more precipitation.
The areas to the north of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and the eastern part of Sichuan
Province, with elevations between 1,000 and 2,000 m, constitute the second terrace,
which includes highlands such as the Inner Mongolia Plateau, the Loess Plateau,
and the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau. The region also features the Altay, Tianshan, and
Qinling Mountains and large basins such as the Junggar Basin, the Tarim Basin, and
the Sichuan Basin. The northern edge of the summer monsoon may reach these areas,
so annual precipitation is higher than that in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.
The third terrace is the vast area extending from east of the Da Hingganling Mountains, the Taihang Mountains, the Wushan Mountains, and the Yunnan–Guizhou
Plateau to the coast, with interlocking distributions of hilly lands and plains. The
1 Physical Settings and Water Challenges
Fig. 1.1 China topography Sources MNR, China. Permission granted by MNR on its website
subject to proper citation
grades from west to east, which have significant influence on the distribution of
precipitation and water resources (Fig. 1.1).
The highest terrace in China is the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, generally over 4,000 m
above sea level with a series of parallel mountain ranges and valleys and numerous
snowy peaks. Mountain ranges include the Kunlun, the Karakorum, the Altun, the
Qilian, the Tanggula, the Gangdise, the Himalayas, and the Hengduan Mountains.
The area also features many lakes. The highest mountain peak in the world, Mount
Everest of the Himalayas, is 8,844 m. On the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, because of the
high elevation, the atmosphere is thin, and precipitation is scarce. At the edge of the
plateau, the intensive upward airflow brings more precipitation.
The areas to the north of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and the eastern part of Sichuan
Province, with elevations between 1,000 and 2,000 m, constitute the second terrace,
which includes highlands such as the Inner Mongolia Plateau, the Loess Plateau,
and the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau. The region also features the Altay, Tianshan, and
Qinling Mountains and large basins such as the Junggar Basin, the Tarim Basin, and
the Sichuan Basin. The northern edge of the summer monsoon may reach these areas,
so annual precipitation is higher than that in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.
The third terrace is the vast area extending from east of the Da Hingganling Mountains, the Taihang Mountains, the Wushan Mountains, and the Yunnan–Guizhou
Plateau to the coast, with interlocking distributions of hilly lands and plains. The