Affected by global warming, the frozen earth on the Qinghai Plateau has been thawing, according to scientists in the northwest China's Qinghai Province.

Scientists with the Qinghai Climate Data Center have analyzed the data from the frozen area of the plateau in the past decades by using geological information system technology.

The scientists found that in the frozen region, the earth's temperature has been noticeably rising. Also, the duration of the year during which the ground is frozen is becoming increasingly shorter and the thickness of the frozen layer has decreased.

According to statistics, the layer of frozen earth is now 50 meters more shallow than it was decades ago, said Qin Ningsheng, director of the center.

Qin said that Xining, the capital city of the province, and Gangcha County, are the two places that have witnessed the worst thaw due to the "hot island" effect brought about by urbanization, and the falling water level in the Qinghai Lake.

Because the layer of frozen earth plays a great role in maintaining the ecology of the plateau, Qin called for the government to pay attention to the changes and take measures to protect the current ecological system.

(Xinhua News Agency January 10, 2005)