Taking advantage of the unique geomorphology over the Nam Co region, the NAMORS has built up a hydrological observation network around the station since its establishment. It includes hydrology observation over rivers and lakes, as well as monitoring of precipitation and evaporation.
Five hydrological profiles have been set up respectively over the lower reach of Qugaqie river, Zhadang glacial terminus, Angqu River, Niya Qu river, and Ce Qu river. Each profile has been equipped with an HOBO water level self-recording instrument every summer (May-October), subjected to water level measurement every 10 minutes. Meanwhile, manual labor has also been applied to river runoff monitoring using LS1206B propeller type current meter, in addition to observation of river electronic conductivity and river surface temperature using, respectively, TDS diagometer and infrared radiation thermometer.
The NAMORS has also supported regular monitorings of lakes around the station, including the Nam Co, Zhaxi Island, Holy Mountain, Duojia Temple, Sijupingba, and Nam Co northeastern bank. Lake level was recorded every month since May, 2006. Big lakes have been selected thereof since July 2009 to be subjected to intensified lake level measurement at every 30 minutes.
Complex land surface processes gave rise to its unique micro-scale climate around the Nam Co catchment, underlining the importance of precipitation monitoring. Thus artificial precipitation monitoring at eight o’clock, morning and night, has been carried out on the station since July, 2006. Six fixed sites have also been chosen around the Nam Co for configuration of RG3-M pluviometer with a precision of 0.2 mm, as well as that of rain gauges for total precipitation measurement. Since 2009, international cooperation has contributed to more precise measurement and analysis of precipitation by setting up more advanced apparatus as Thies Clima Laser Precipitation Monitor and Dopler Radar Real-time Precipitation Monitor.
Evaporating dishes of 20 cm-diameter were placed at the station and nearby the Nam Co Lake for morning and night observations of evaporation.
These data are valuable for deepened academic research, and can be accessed by direct contact with the NAMORS.
