Geothermal monitoring system completed along Qinghai-Tibet Railway

　　BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Installation of a geothermal monitoring system in the permafrost region along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway has recently been completed, according to the Qinghai Provincial Meteorological Bureau.

　　The system will be capable of monitoring, forecasting and researching on the temperature changes along the railway, so as to guarantee its safe operation.

　　Photo shows the permafrost region under Mt. Kunlun along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. (Xinhua Photo)

　　Besides, real-time data can be transmitted via the Internet and telecommunication lines. On this basis, the system can make forecasts and issue early warning on the effects of geothermal changes on the roadbed.

　　The 2,000-km Qinghai-Tibet Railway runs from Xining, capital of Qinghai Province to Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region, via Qinghai Lake, Mt. Kunlun, Hoh Xil, Sanjiangyuan Area, and the grassland in northern Tibet.

　　A 550-km section of the railway passes the permafrost region.

　　The China Meteorological Administration began last April to organize meteorological departments in Tibet and Qinghai to build 16 automatic permafrost monitoring stations along the Golmud-Lhasa section and 10 automatic weather monitoring stations in Qinghai Province.