BEIJING, Aug 27 (DNA): A lidar station set up at the University of
Peshawar can provide atmospheric clouds, aerosols, temperature, humidity
and other data concerning the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
area, and facilitate research on climate change, pollution and sand
storm.
The station was put into use in Peshawar, Pakistan earlier this month
for climate observation under a Belt and Road project jointly undertaken
by Chinese and Pakistani universities, according to People Daily.
Jointly built by the two universities, the station is the most advanced
climate and environment observation station in Pakistan, according to
Huang Zhongwei, a professor with the Lanzhou University based in
northwest China Gansu province.
The Peshawar station is part of a lidar network that also includes eight
stations in northwest China’s Gansu Province and Xinjiang Uygur
Autonomous Region.
Combining the lidar network and weather satellites, scientists have
built a regional comprehensive weather monitoring system, which will
help them build a high-quality database, develop a weather disaster
warning system and meet the needs in building new energy, transportation
and other key infrastructure, according to Huang.
Preparation to build the station started as early as in 2018. Key
equipment provided by Chinese side were sent to Pakistan last year.
Engineers from the Lanzhou University visited the University of Peshawar
from July 25 to August 6 this year to help install the equipment and
train Pakistani engineers.
We provide the equipment while the University of Peshawar is responsible
for the site selection, electricity supply and equipment maintenance.
The two sides share the data in the Belt and Road lidar network, said Li
Wuren, an engineer with Lanzhou University.
Khan Alam, associate professor at the department of physics with the
University of Peshawar, said the high-tech instruments from China would
help assess and mitigate air quality issues in Peshawar, and observe the
impacts on human health as well as climate changes. DNA
: A lidar station set up at the University of Peshawar can provide atmospheric clouds, aerosols, temperature,){kind=link}