During April 18- May 15, 2010, six ITP scientific staff and five Nepalese scientific staff from Tribhuvan University jointly conducted field trips in Nepal on the southern edge of the Third Pole region, thanks to the support of the TPE (Third Pole Environment) Program.

In nearly one month expedition, scientists succeeded in setting up two meteorological stations in Nepal, respectively in Kyanjin Gompa (3900 m a.s.l) and Tahara (119 m a.s.l) in southeast Nepal. They also trekked along the Yala Glacier carrying differential GPS instrument for glacial measurement, including the measurement of elevation at the glacial surface and the terminus. A series of line-pods were also stuck on the Yala Glacier slope for glacial mass balance monitoring. Preliminary sampling of surface snow and at the snow-pit profile was also done on the glacier to see the propriety for microbial sampling and analysis in the region. 

In the Langtang catchment, tree rings have been sampled for paleo-climate and –environment reconstruction. In addition, river runoff was monitored with the equipment configuration for long-term continuous measurement of river water levels. Three spots have finally been chosen in the catchment for regular and continuous study of stable isotope hydrology, with two for fix-sited sampling of precipitation and one for fix-sited sampling of river water.

This joint expedition in Nepal is a follow-up to the first joint research last October. Both were funded by the TPE program in an effort to understand environmental changes in the region.