The Tibetan Plateau (Qinghai-Xizang Plateau) is a unique geological-geographical unit on Earth, an ideal region for studies into the formation and evolution of the lithosphere and the dynamic mechanism of the earth crust. The uplifting of the Plateau exerts profound influence upon the evolution and differentiation of the natural environment of the plateau itself, its adjacent regions and the Northern Hemisphere. As a unique natural geographical unit, the Plateau holds a special status in the whole globe due to its special natural environment and ecosystems, which is also in close relation to global environmental change. The significance of the Plateau research should be recognized not only in the fundamental research fields of geo-sciences and biology, but also in its application to resource exploitation, environmental protection and sustainable development of the Plateau region.
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