This article was accepted into the corpus but its outbound wikilinks were never NER-processed — typical at the deepest BFS hop or when the run's entity cap was reached. No expansion funnel to show.
| Mount Waliguan | |
|---|---|
| Name | Mount Waliguan |
| Elevation m | 5480 |
| Location | Qinghai, China |
| Range | Qilian Mountains |
| Coordinates | 36°04′N 100°54′E |
Mount Waliguan is a high peak on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai province, China. The summit sits within the Qilian Mountains and forms part of regional networks for meteorology, seismology, and high-altitude astronomy research. The site is notable for being a reference station in international geophysical studies involving institutions such as the China Earthquake Administration, National Meteorological Center (China), and international programs like the Global Atmosphere Watch.
Mount Waliguan lies near the border of Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and the Gansu frontier, positioned on the northeastern Tibetan margin adjacent to the Hexi Corridor and the Qaidam Basin. The mountain’s coordinates place it within a regional context that includes the Yellow River headwaters, the Amne Machin massif, and transit corridors used historically by the Silk Road and modern corridors such as the Lanxin Railway. Nearby administrative centers include Xining, Golmud, and Lanzhou, which connect the site to national research hubs like the Chinese Academy of Sciences and universities such as Peking University and Tsinghua University.
The geology of the Waliguan area reflects processes associated with the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and the ongoing collision between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. Bedrock exposures include metamorphic sequences and granitoids comparable to those described in studies of the Kunlun Mountains and the Qilian fold belt. Structural features link to transpressional faults related to the Altyn Tagh Fault system and crustal shortening documented in the Longmen Shan and Qinling regions. Regional geochronology has been informed by research programs affiliated with institutions such as the Institute of Geology (China), China University of Geosciences, and international collaborations with the United States Geological Survey.
The high-elevation site experiences an alpine climate influenced by the East Asian Monsoon, the westerlies, and continental effects from the Qaidam Basin. Seasonal variability mirrors patterns observed at sites like Nyalam and Qomolangma (Everest) South Base Camp with cold, dry winters and relatively wetter summers. Waliguan hosts a long-term atmospheric observatory contributing data to the World Meteorological Organization and programs such as the Global Atmosphere Watch, providing continuous records of temperature, pressure, humidity, and trace gases used by centers including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
Waliguan is historically significant as the location for a high-altitude seismic and geophysical station that has contributed to cataloging earthquakes and monitoring crustal deformation across the Tibetan Plateau, Qilian Mountains, and adjacent basins. Networks incorporating data from this station have been integrated with the International Seismological Centre, the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS), and regional arrays operated by the China Earthquake Networks Center. Research topics include focal mechanism analysis of events similar to earthquakes in the Haiyuan and Lushan sequences, ambient noise tomography comparable to studies in the San Andreas Fault system, and gravity studies linked to initiatives by the International Gravity Field Service.
The high-altitude ecosystems around Waliguan support cold-adapted flora and fauna typical of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau margin, with alpine meadows, steppe communities, and isolated wetlands analogous to habitats in the Hoh Xil and Sanjiangyuan regions. Species records include mammals and birds monitored by organizations like the Chinese Academy of Sciences and conservation groups such as WWF and the IUCN, with ecological research parallels to studies on Tibetan antelope and snow leopard habitats in neighboring ranges. Vegetation studies draw comparisons with transects used by researchers from Peking University and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The broader region around Waliguan has been traversed by pastoralist communities connected to Tibetan cultural spheres, linking to the histories of Amdo, Tangut interactions, and corridor routes of the Silk Road. Ethnographic and historical research engages scholars from institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and universities including Northwest University (China). Modern scientific presence has led to collaborations with national bodies like the Ministry of Science and Technology (China) and international partners from organizations like the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Access to the Waliguan station is typically via road links from Xining and field logistics coordinated by entities such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences and provincial research bureaus. Facilities at the site have included meteorological instruments, seismometers, gravimeters, and communications equipment managed in cooperation with the China Meteorological Administration and international networks like the Global Seismographic Network. Ongoing scientific campaigns have engaged researchers from universities including Tsinghua University, Nanjing University, and international collaborators from institutions such as the University of Cambridge and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Category:Mountains of Qinghai Category:Tibetan Plateau