Nam Co Cores Decode the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau’s Climate Memory

Rising at an average elevation of 4,718 meters, Lake Nam Co is more than a scenic landmark — it is a vast geological archive preserving the story of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau’s environmental evolution over millions of years. The lake’s sediment cores contain vital records that help scientists reconstruct ancient climate patterns and understand how the region has responded to global environmental shifts.

Over the past two decades, the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in collaboration with research teams from Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, and other countries, has made remarkable scientific progress through long-term observation and exploration.

This global partnership has yielded groundbreaking insights into the Plateau’s climatic and ecological transformations, offering invaluable data for understanding and addressing the challenges of global climate change.

By: Chen Sijia