One research project being conducted by the China Academy of Sciences indicates that in the most recent 1000 years the Tibet southeast area glacier activity changes have been more consistent with seasonal monsoon changes and that there exists a definite difference in temperature when compared with the northern hemisphere. Thus, it indicates that temperature is not the only factor controlling glacial activity in the local area.

The southeast area of Tibet is China’s center of monsoon glacier distribution. For a long period of time, there has been insufficient records regarding glacial changes in the relatively long period of local history in this area as well as a general lack of cause analysis research regarding related issues.

The China Academy of Sciences Qinghai Tibet plateau research institute staff Liping Zhu has reported recently that in recent years research in the southeast Tibet region, along a key tributary of the Yarlung Tsangpo river at its head, which is an ice lake, is being conducted and a detailed study of the ancient lake has been carried out. Through sophisticated measurement of Carbon-14 dating methods a time period framework has been confirmed, and through the lake deposit logging, it was possible to reconstruct the glacial activity changes in the old valley over a period of 8000 years.

Recent distributed data results indicate that from 4300 to 2200 years ago there was significant glacial progression in the area; and from 2200 to 1600 years ago there was definite glacial recession signs; and from 1600 years before up until the time recently when the Earth started warming the glaciers thereat once again entered a period of major activity.

When compared with climate logs experts found that the the southeast Tibet area long term measurement of glacial activity is controlled by changes in northern hemisphere temperature changes as well as summer season sun radiation changes and furthermore did not correspond with periodic Indian monsoon changes. However in the recent 1000 years the glacial activity in the area and seasonal monsoon changes have been more consistent and on the other hand has been definite variation when compared with the northern hemisphere temperature changes. This single discovery broke the singular perception that glacial activity is controlled by global temperature changes.

This research finding has already been published in the periodical title Prehistoric Geography, Climatology and Ecology.