Strengthen Monitoring on Aral Ecosystem in Tarim River

Tarim River is the largest inland basin with a total area of 102×10~4 km~2 located in the arid zone of Northwest China.Total water resource is 429×10~8m~3 in Tarim River basin,with relatively scarce water and very weak ecological environment.The three tributary river systems(Aksu,Hotan and Yarkant) that contribute flows to the Tarim River join just above the Aler gauging station where the Tarim River begins.Aral Ecosystem Monitor Station is located at Xiaojiake——Aral Hydrological Gauging Station where is the meeting of Aksu,Yarkant,Hotan and Tarim River,and is an important representative regional station in the Tarim river plain.The hydrological regimes and ecological environment of Aral area control to river health of the upper,the middle and the lower reaches of Tarim River.Monitoring Aral ecosystem will help for integrated water resources planning and unified management,regulation to change and the evolvement of the ecological environment,and for development of local society economy.This station was set up in July of 1996,the monitoring items including hydrometeorology,groundwater table,tree,shrub,grass,soil,water,saline and desertification.The field monitor facilities include the river hydrology cross section and meteorological observation field.The first monitor sector is 22 km long.In addition to hydrological and meteorological monitoring items are installed in the ecosystem monitor station,and others are carried on the first monitor sector.