Southern Tibetan Plateau Research Articles

Late Cenozoic Denudation and Topographic Evolution History of the Lhasa River Drainage in Southern Tibetan Plateau: Insights From Inverse Thermal History Modeling

The interaction of surface erosion (e.g., fluvial incision) and tectonic uplift shapes the landform in the Tibetan Plateau. The Lhasa River flows toward the southwest across the central Gangdese Mountains in the southern Tibetan Plateau, characterized by a low-relief and high-elevation landscape. However, the evolution of low-relief topography and the establishment of the Lhasa River remain highly under debate. Here, we collected thermochronological ages reported in the Lhasa River drainage, using a 3D thermokinematic model to invert both late Cenozoic denudation and relief history of the Lhasa River drainage. Our results show that the Lhasa River drainage underwent four-phase denudation history, including two-stage rapid denudation at ∼25–16 Ma (with a rate of ∼0.42 km/Ma) and ∼16–12 Ma (with a rate of ∼0.72 km/Ma). In the latest Oligocene–early Miocene, uplift of the Gangdese Mountains triggered the rapid denudation and the formation of the current main drainage of the Lhasa River. In the middle Miocene, the second stage of the rapid denudation and the high relief were associated with intense incision of the Lhasa River, which is probably due to the enhanced Asian summer monsoon precipitation. This later rapid episode was consistent with the records of regional main drainage systems. After ∼12 Ma, the denudation rate decreases rapidly, and the relief of topography in the central Gangdese region was gradually subdued. This indicates that the fluvial erosion resulting from Asian monsoon precipitation increase significantly impacts on the topographic evolution in the central Gangdese region.

Interannual Variation in Stable Isotopes in Water Vapor Over the Northern Tibetan Plateau Linked to ENSO

AbstractThe contrasting responses of ice core δ18O records (δ18Oice) from the northern and southern Tibetan Plateau (TP) to the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) complicate δ18Oice‐based temperature reconstructions. These contrasting responses were explored using stable hydrogen isotopes in water vapor (δDv). We found that the interannual variation in δDv from the northern TP is influenced by midtropospheric moisture sources from the Indo‐Pacific Warm Pool, with enriched (depleted) δDv values in La Niña (El Niño) years due to enhanced (weakened) deep convection. In comparison, the interannual δDv variation in the southern TP is mainly influenced by low‐tropospheric moisture from the central Indian Continent, whose δDv is depleted (enriched) in La Niña (El Niño) years. These results demonstrate that moisture transported from different altitudes can lead to opposite isotopic signals of water vapor over the northern and southern TP and can be used to reconcile the contrasting responses of δ18Oice to ENSO.

Climatology and physical mechanisms of the tropospheric warm cores over the Tibetan Plateau and its vicinity

The frequently observed tropospheric warm cores over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) are unique climate phenomena and are crucial to the Asian summer monsoon development. However, their climatological structure and formation mechanisms remain elusive and inconsistent among previous studies. In this work, two vertically separated warm cores, the upper-level warm cores (ULWCs) and lower-level warm cores (LLWCs), are identified based on the zonal temperature deviation. The LLWCs are basically confined below 450 hPa, and the ULWCs are mostly observed at 200–400 hPa. The active region of the LLWCs is generally within the TP domain and characterized by regional patches with high frequency occurrences. In contrast, the active region of the ULWCs is featured by a zonally elongated band along the southern TP. The physical mechanisms for the formations of these two distinct types of warm cores are revealed: the LLWCs are mainly generated and maintained by the surface diabatic heating, while the ULWCs are dominated by the large-scale circulation associated with the convection over the Indo-Pacific warm pool. During March–June, the ULWCs within the TP domain occur most frequently and the intensities attain their maxima. In March–April, the ULWCs are mainly determined by the TP adiabatic subsidence induced by the convection over the Indo-Pacific warm pool. In May–June, the warm advection induced by westerlies generates the downstream ULWCs and enhances the ULWCs formed in previous months. Hence it might be inappropriate in traditional view to attribute the tropospheric warm cores around the TP solely to the direct thermal effect of the elevated topography.

Vegetation and climate change since the late glacial period on the southern Tibetan Plateau

A well-dated pollen record from the Lake Mabu co, located on the southern Tibetan Plateau, provides a history of vegetation and climate change from the late glacial period to the Holocene. Before 17,090 cal yr BP, the vegetation type was alpine steppe desert with a cold and dry climate on the southern Tibetan Plateau. The high percentages of extra arboreal pollen (Pinus) indicate that the climate was mainly controlled by strong Westerlies. After 17,090 cal yr BP, alpine meadows mainly consisting of Cyperaceae were widely distributed in the study area. This shift in vegetation type may have been induced by increasing Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) precipitation and atmospheric CO2 concentrations. The expansion of the montane mixed forests after 12,480 cal yr BP indicates that vertical migration of the vegetation belt occurred under the influence of a strong ISM and climate warming. These vegetation changes suggest that the climate has gradually become moister and warmer since the late glacial period, which is consistent with the intensified ISM and the summer solar insolation of the Northern Hemisphere.

What induces the interdecadal shift of the dipole patterns of summer precipitation trends over the Tibetan Plateau?

AbstractPrecipitation on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) exert great impacts on the energy, water cycle, and regional ecosystem. But due to the wide differences in climate regimes and complicated topography, TP precipitation is characterized as greater spatial diversity and lower confidence of temporal tendency. Based on the precipitation datasets from in situ observations, reanalysis, and satellites, this study identifies the interdecadal shift of the summer precipitation trends in the southern and northern TP, which corresponds well with the remarkable changes of TP lakes area in recent years. The statistical results indicate that the TP summer precipitation has experienced an interdecadal transition in the late 1990s, with precipitation increasing and then decreasing in the southern TP, and decreasing and then increasing in the northern TP. Further analyses suggest that the changes in moisture budget and convection activities play an important role in the interdecadal variations of precipitation in the northern and southern TP, respectively. More specifically, the variations in the southern TP are contributed largely by the persistent weakening sensible heat source, which can depress the ascending motion and hinder the northward moisture transport in the southern TP. While in the northern TP, both observations and model sensitivity experiments indicate that the co‐effect of the cold interdecadal Pacific oscillation (IPO) and warm Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO) has profound impacts on the decadal shift of the net moisture budget in the northern TP. Specifically, the AMO can impact the Lake Baikal anticyclone through the anomalous wave propagation and then decrease the moisture output in the eastern TP. While the IPO can weaken the climatological westerlies and prompt the moisture to get stuck in the northern TP. Consequently, the variations in the net moisture budget can give rise to the decadal variations in summer precipitation in the northern TP.

Change in drought conditions and its impacts on vegetation growth over the Tibetan Plateau

Understanding climate change as well as its impacts on vegetation growth over the Tibetan Plateau has important implication for ecosystems. This study investigated changes in drought conditions and their impacts on vegetation growth over the Tibetan Plateau. The results reveal that the precipitation in growing season (May–September) shows a significant increase over most parts of the central and eastern Tibetan Plateau during 1961–2019. Consequently, drought conditions have generally relieved except in the south and northeast where precipitation has decreased. Combining analyses of gridded-dataset-derived drought indices with vegetation indices during 1982–2015, vegetation improvement in most regions of the Plateau is mainly due to lessened drought conditions. Noticeably, vegetation degradation is also found in part of southern Tibetan Plateau mainly resulting from drought enhancement. This study is expected to provide scientific basis for understanding of change in drought condition and its impacts on vegetation over different regions of TP under global warming background.

Climatic and environmental change in the western Tibetan Plateau during the Holocene, recorded by lake sediments from Aweng Co

Understanding the strength and extent of the Asian summer monsoon (including the East Asian summer monsoon and the Indian summer monsoon) in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) region is crucial for predicting possible changes in the regional eco-environment and water resources under global warming. Due to the lack of well-dated and high-resolution paleoclimate records, long-term monsoon dynamics are still not well understood in the western TP, which is currently influenced by both the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) and the westerlies. Here we present a multi-proxy lacustrine record covering the past 10,500 years from Aweng Co, an alpine lake at the northern limit of the modern ASM in western Tibet. Our results show that the western TP was mainly controlled by the ISM during the Holocene and the regional ecosystem/environment was sensitive to climate change. The climate was the wettest between 10.5 and 7.3 cal kyr BP, when terrestrial plants in the catchment were productive and the biomass of benthic algae was low possibly due to limited sunlight at the lake bottom due to high lake level. From 7.3 to 5.0 cal kyr BP the climate shifted towards drier conditions, resulting in a decline in terrestrial plant cover. Between 5.0 and 3.1 cal kyr BP, the climate became even drier, resulting in a further decline in vegetation cover in the catchment. Between 4.6 and 3.1 cal kyr BP, 100% endogenic dolomite precipitated from the lake water, possibly induced by high Mg/Ca ratios. After 3.1 cal kyr BP, the climate was the driest and frequent centennial-scale droughts occurred. The lake level was low and would have resulted in more light reaching the lake bottom, favoring the growth of benthic algae. The reconstructed lake level change of Aweng Co agrees well with the paleo-shoreline records in the southern TP, demonstrating that the ISM evolution played a key role in lake hydrological processes in this region. A comparison of paleoclimate records shows the ISM reached 34.5° N in the western TP during the Holocene.

Late-Holocene fluctuations of monsoonal Qiangyong Glacier, southern Tibetan Plateau

Glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) are reliable water sources for Asia. Continuously high-resolution and high-accuracy long-term glacier fluctuations have been examined to improve the reliability of predictions regarding future TP glacier behavior under global climate change. In this study, we analyzed physiochemical parameters in typical glaciolacustrine sediments to reconstruct multidecadal activities of the monsoonal Qiangyong Glacier over the past ~2500 years. The results show that the glacier advanced most strongly during 560 BC–AD 100, followed by AD 1050–1850 and AD 600–850. It retreated most severely during AD 1850–present, followed by AD 100–600 and AD 850–1050. This continuous record corresponds well with changes in the temperature and regional precipitation before the Current Warm Period, exhibiting “warm-humid-retreat” and “cold-dry-advance” patterns. This indicates that temperature changes, rather than precipitation variations, control the monsoonal glaciers at the southern TP at multidecadal to centennial scales. As global warming continues, although the precipitation on the southern TP is projected to increase, the mass loss of TP monsoonal glaciers is expected to continue.

Evaluating the Water Level Variation of a High-Altitude Lake in Response to Environmental Changes on the Southern Tibetan Plateau

AbstractLakes are sensitive to environmental changes, and an example of this change is the decreased water level in the Yamzho Yumco Lake (YYL, in southern Tibetan Plateau), which is opposite of th...

Stability and micro‐topographic effects of Sophora moorcroftiana population on a restored alluvial fan, Southern Tibetan Plateau

AbstractThe Tibetan Plateau, a vulnerable eco‐region undergoing global change, is hard to revegetate where land has become desertified due to the harsh habitat conditions. Sophora moorcroftiana shrubs, which are widely distributed in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River basin of Tibet, China, have been naturally restored on desertified land during the last few decades. However, the influences of micro‐topography on the distribution and structure of the S. moorcroftiana population have been rarely reported. Here, we first describe the spatial variation of S. moorcroftiana population on a restored alluvial fan, and then explore the effects of micro‐topography on the restored S. moorcroftiana population, through a series of field surveys combined with the data collected by terrestrial laser scanning. The results indicate that the dominant age structure was adult shrubs (30–60 cm). Although the topographic effect had no significant impacts on soil organic matter and some other structural traits, which remained stable on the restored alluvial fan, it changed population density, plant growth, and distribution. The habitat conditions on the southwest aspect wapproximately 20°–25° slope with altitudes ranging between 3,593–3,643 m, conditions that mostly favouring the distribution of the shrub population. The micro‐topography played an important role in species distribution and growth of the S. moorcroftiana population. Our findings could help to understand the effect of micro‐topography on plant population structure and distribution for ecological restoration of desertified land in the Southern Tibetan Plateau.

Evidence for deep processes from the Miocene potassic rock: Dynamic subsidence and uplift of the India-Asia Suture Zone

The India-Asia Suture Zone (IASZ) records not only pre-India-Asia collision geological evolution, but also the surface uplift and growth history of the southern Tibetan Plateau. Recent studies from sedimentary and paleoaltimetric data within the IASZ reconstructed its surface uplift history and its geodynamical mechanism was proposed without any direct constraints. Post-collisional potassic magmatic rocks (PMRs) in the IASZ can provide unique opportunities to clarify deep crustal processes. Here we conducted systematically zircon U–Pb age and Hf isotope, and garnet major and trace element analyses of the Saga PMRs in the western IASZ. The Triassic to Miocene inherited zircons are comparable to those of the central and southern Lhasa in terms of ages and εHf(t) values, suggesting that the PMRs in the IASZ might be sourced from the central–southern Lhasa through southward mid-lower crustal flow beneath the southern Tibetan Plateau. The occurrence of garnet in the gneissic xenolith of the Saga PMRs suggests crustal thickening in the IASZ before PMRs formation. Geochemical compositions of garnets reveal a heating and decompression event. We proposed that the Indian slab rollback resulted in the uprising flow and finally triggered melting of the thicken Asian crust to generate the Saga PMRs. This tectonic event also induced the extension and basin development in the IASZ. Our study provides direct evidence for the dynamic subsidence and uplift in the IASZ.

Three-dimensional structural characteristics of the Zhaxikang ore-concentration area based on multiple attribute constraints

The Zhaxikang ore-concentration area (ZOCA) is in the Gangdese metallogenic belt in the southern Tibet Plateau. It has huge prospecting potential. Most of the mineral resources on the Gangdese metallogenic belt are controlled by the dome and fault. The deep structure and the coupling relationship between the Cuonadong dome and the deep structure are of great significance for understanding ore-controlling structures and hydrothermal channels. Existing studies have been controversial in the study of whether there are hidden structures in the deep part of the Zhaxikang deposit, and whether the Cuonadong dome extends to the bottom of the Zhaxikang deposit in the Gangdese metallogenic belt. Therefore, we comprehensively analyzed a large number of gravities, magnetic, and magnetotelluric data in the Zhaxikang area and carried out a fusion display of multiple information in the Zhaxikang ore-concentration area. Understand the relationship between the Cuonadong dome, fault system and deep hydrothermal channel through fusion display to analyze the background of Zhaxikang metallogenesis. The deep structure of the Cuonadong dome was identified, and it was found that there was a hidden structure at the bottom of Zhaxikang that was not connected to the Cuonadong dome. These findings are a great significance for further theoretical research and breakthroughs in ore prospecting.

Comprehensive estimation of lake volume changes on the Tibetan Plateau during 1976–2019 and basin-wide glacier contribution

Volume changes and water balances of the lakes on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) are spatially heterogeneous and the lake-basin scale drivers remain unclear. In this study, we comprehensively estimated water volume changes for 1132 lakes larger than 1 km2 and determined the glacier contribution to lake volume change at basin-wide scale using satellite stereo and multispectral images. Overall, the water mass stored in the lakes increased by 169.7 ± 15.1 Gt (3.9 ± 0.4 Gt yr−1) between 1976 and 2019, mainly in the Inner-TP (157.6 ± 11.6 or 3.7 ± 0.3 Gt yr−1). A substantial increase in mass occurred between 1995 and 2019 (214.9 ± 12.7 Gt or 9.0 ± 0.5 Gt yr−1), following a period of decrease (−45.2 ± 8.2 Gt or −2.4 ± 0.4 Gt yr−1) prior to 1995. A slowdown in the rate of water mass increase occurred between 2010 and 2015 (23.1 ± 6.5 Gt or 4.6 ± 1.3 Gt yr−1), followed again by a high value between 2015 and 2019 (65.7 ± 6.7 Gt or 16.4 ± 1.7 Gt yr−1). The increased lake-water mass occurred predominately in glacier-fed lakes (127.1 ± 14.3 Gt) in contrast to non-glacier-fed lakes (42.6 ± 4.9 Gt), and in endorheic lakes (161.9 ± 14.0 Gt) against exorheic lakes (7.8 ± 5.8 Gt) over 1976–2019. Endorheic and glacier-fed lakes showed strongly contrasting patterns with a remarkable storage increase in the northern TP and slight decrease in the southern TP. The ratio of excess glacier meltwater runoff to lake volume increase between 2000 and ~2019 was less than 30% for the entire Inner-TP based on several independent data sets. Among individual lake-basins, 14 showed a glacier contribution to lake volume increase of 0.3% to 29.1%. The other eight basins exhibited a greater glacier contribution of 116% to 436%, which could be explained by decreased net precipitation. The lake volume change and basin scale glacier contribution reveal that the enhanced precipitation predominantly drives lake volume increase but it is spatially heterogeneous.

Climate and landscape controls on spatio-temporal patterns of stream water stable isotopes in a large glacierized mountain basin on the Tibetan Plateau

The spatio-temporal variations of stream water stable isotopes are often assumed to follow atmospheric moisture transport over the Tibetan Plateau (TP). However, the isotopic composition of streamflow can be modified by the extensive variation in landscape properties in large glacierized mountain basins. In this study, the isotopic composition of stream water and its dominant controls in terms of spatial variation and potential water sources of rainfall, snow and glacier melt, and groundwater are analyzed based on synoptic water sampling from September 2018 to August 2019 over the Lhasa River basin (LRB) in the Southern TP. Results showed that: (1) δ18O variation in stream water is linearly proportional to longitude and latitude in the north. This spatial pattern is primarily controlled by cold mountainous environments, where stream water δ18O is more depleted and d-excess is higher towards the northwest and higher elevation in glacier-fed streams. Glacial melt could contribute considerably to streamflow generation, especially in the late monsoon season. (2) In the south, stream water δ18O does not simply follow depleted δ18O in precipitation along the strengthened Indian monsoon moisture gradient, but is enriched by strengthened local moisture recycling and increased groundwater contributions. The rainfall recharge is highly regulated and mixes with storage before it reaches the mainstem of the river. (3) The seasonal variations of stream water δ18O and d-excess are distinct, resulting from different contribution sources and catchment controls. In the pre-monsoon season, the strongest local moisture recycling obscures any simple stream water isotope lapse with elevation. These identified source areas and seasonal variations in the isotopic composition in stream water of LRB help us understand diverse water sources and flow paths to streams in this complex environment, which is a prerequisite for projecting potential future change.

Environmental geochemical characteristics and the provenance of sediments in the catchment of lower reach of Yarlung Tsangpo River, southeast Tibetan Plateau

Loess-like deposits and soils distribute extensively along the wide valleys across the Yarlung Tsangpo River (YTR) catchment in southern Tibetan Plateau. They provide insights into pedogenetic processes and environmental changes. The climate of the low reach area of the YTR catchment is currently relatively wet and warm compared with the middle and upper reaches. To reconstruct climate and environmental changes in the source region, we carried out major and trace elements measurements on various types of sediments collected from the catchment of the lower part of YTR and its tributaries, i.e., Nyang, Po, Yigong and Parlung Tsangpo river (YPT). We find that CaO and MgO are more enriched in the YPT catchment than in the upper continental crust (UCC). Surface and profile sediments across the lower reach of the YTR show elevated As, Cd, Pb and Cs levels, which present potential health risks to local residents and should be considered in health policies. We also found that the sediments are predominantly sourced from local felsic bedrocks. Across the lower part of the YTR, surface sediments only underwent incipient chemical weathering. Steep slopes and heavy precipitation likely removed the sediments quickly and minimized the exposure of minerals to chemical weathering. Elevated As, Pb and Cs contents were found in sediments deposited during the wetter and warmer period from the early-middle Holocene compared with those deposited in modern times. Thus, climate might be an important factor for heavy metals release into the soils of southern Tibetan Plateau by modulating the extent of chemical weathering of their parent rocks.

Geological and Pleistocene glaciations explain the demography and disjunct distribution of red panda (A. fulgens) in eastern Himalayas

Pleistocene glaciations facilitated climatic oscillations that caused for enormous heterogeneity in landscapes, and consequently affected demography and distribution patterns of the mountain endemic species. In this context, we investigated demographic history and population genetic structure of red panda, distributed along the geographical proximity in the southern edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Bayesian based phylogeny demonstrated that red panda diverged about 0.30 million years ago (CI 0.23–0.39) into two phylogenetic (sub) species, that correspond to the middle-late Pleistocene transition. The observed intraspecific clades with respect to Himalayan and Chinese red panda indicated restricted gene flow resulting from the Pleistocene glaciations in the eastern and southern Tibetan Plateau. We found Himalayan red panda population at least in KL-India declined abruptly in last 5–10 thousand years after being under demographic equilibrium. We suggest revisiting the ongoing conservation activities through cross border collaboration by developing multi-nationals, and multi-lateral species-oriented conservation action plans to support the red panda populations in transboundary landscapes.

Decomposition of projected summer rainfall change over East Asia based on timeslice experiments

The summer rainfall change over East Asia in response to CO2 forcing and the associated processes are investigated via a set of pilot timeslice piSST experiments from the Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparison Project Phase 3 (CFMIP-3). The total response of rainfall to 4 $$\times $$ CO2 in coupled models is decomposed into components associated with uniform SST warming, SST pattern change, the direct radiative effect of increased CO2, and the plant physiological response. In general, the contributions of the individual responses of summer rainfall to different forcings are subject to a regional dependence. The uniform SST warming reduces rainfall in many land regions in East Asia, but increases rainfall over the northern East Asia. The spatial patterns of the rainfall change as the result of SST pattern change are nearly opposite to those of the uniform SST warming, which account for most inter-model uncertainty in the simulations. The direct radiative effect of increasing CO2 is largely responsible for an increase of rainfall across the East Asian continent, especially over the central China and southern Tibetan Plateau, and the plant physiological effect appears to increase rainfall over the eastern and southern China. Also discussed are the atmospheric circulation changes that are driven by the distinct aspects of CO2 forcing and directly tied to the summer rainfall changes.

Pattern of Turbidity Change in the Middle Reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, Southern Tibetan Plateau, from 2007 to 2017

Turbidity is an important indicator of riverine conditions, especially in a fragile environment such as the Tibetan Plateau. Remote sensing, with the advantages of large-scale observations, has been widely applied to monitor turbidity change in lakes and rivers; however, few studies have focused on turbidity change of rivers on the Tibetan Plateau. We investigated the pattern of turbidity change in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, southern Tibetan Plateau, based on multispectral satellite imagery and in situ measurements. We developed empirical models from in situ measured water leaving reflectance and turbidity, and applied the best performed s-curve models on satellite imagery from Sentinel-2, Landsat 8, and Landsat 5 to derive turbidity change in 2007–2017. Our results revealed an overall decreasing spatial trend from the upper to lower streams. Seasonal variations were observed with high turbidity from July to September and low turbidity from October to May. Annual turbidity showed a temporally slightly declining trend from 2007 to 2017. The pattern of turbidity change is affected by the confluence of tributaries and the changes in precipitation and vegetation along the river. These findings provide important insights into the responses of riverine turbidity to climate and environmental changes on the Tibetan Plateau.

Distribution and its significance of dikes in southern Tibetan Plateau

Distribution and its significance of dikes in southern Tibetan Plateau

Spatial variation of nearly NS-trending normal faulting in the southern Yadong-Gulu rift, Tibet: New constraints from the Chongba Yumtso fault, Duoqing Co graben

The Yadong-Gulu rift is the largest active rift within the southern Tibet Plateau. Although tectonic characteristics and geodynamic implications of normal faulting have been widely discussed, precise constraints on the fault slip rates and their spatial distribution are still scarce to date, hindering full exploration of the deformation mechanism of active rifts in the southern Tibet. In this study, we integrated the interpretations of high-resolution satellites and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-acquired images, and topography with the results of field surveys and radiocarbon dating to demonstrate the slip distribution along the Chongba Yumtso fault (CYF) bounding the northeastern sector of the Duoqing Co graben and then discussed their implications for the seismic risk and regional deformation. Since the late Pleistocene, the vertical slip rate and extension rate across the CYF are about 1.2 ± 0.1 and 1.7 (+0.7/−0.5) mm/a, respectively, and the average extension rate across the Yadong-Gulu rift zone is about 2.1 (+0.5/−0.6). According to the activity rate, plane size, basin-mountain height difference, and sediment thickness of the grabens in the southern segment of the rift zone, it is considered that the extension of the main boundary normal fault in the southern segment of the rift has the spatial variation characteristics of decreasing from south to north. According to the comparison of the total extension rate on different time scales, it is considered that the total extension rate of the rift zone in southern Tibet is approximately stable in different time periods, which is ~16 (+5/−4) mm/a. According to the active rate and historical seismic records of the Duoqing Co graben in the Yadong-Gulu Rift Valley, it is considered that the CYF has potential to produce earthquakes with Mw 6.6–7.4.