China science, technology news summary — Jan. 18

China’s Ministry of Science and Technology issued a 2022 annual report on the remote sensing monitoring of the global ecological environment on Tuesday in Beijing. Mysterious cosmic ray particles are shedding light on the protection of relics as Chinese researchers apply muons to check the health of the renowned Xi’an ancient city wall in northwest…

BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) — The following is a summary of published science and technology news of China.

REMOTE SENSING

China’s Ministry of Science and Technology issued a 2022 annual report on the remote sensing monitoring of the global ecological environment on Tuesday in Beijing.

The report contains two topics of “ice, snow, and vegetation change in the Arctic region” and “the production situation of global bulk grain and oil crops and the contribution of multiple cropping and irrigation.”

The report aims to provide scientific data support for promoting sustainable development in the Arctic region and coping with climate change, as well as analyzing the impact of extreme weather and regional emergencies on food production and supply.

RELICS PROTECTION

Mysterious cosmic ray particles are shedding light on the protection of relics as Chinese researchers apply muons to check the health of the renowned Xi’an ancient city wall in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province.

Researchers from Lanzhou University in northwest China’s Gansu Province have collaborated with the relics protection authorities of Xi’an, capital of Shaanxi, to apply high-energy cosmic ray particles to probe through the city wall.

The researchers have recently developed the non-destructive imaging of cosmic ray muons to get images of the interior of large-sized structures from a distance. They recently applied the technique in relics preservation in Xi’an.

SOIL RESPIRATION

Chinese researchers have made headway in the standardized and accurate measurement of soil respiration, according to Lanzhou University.

A new study is helping researchers gain a better understanding of the terrestrial carbon cycle in the ecosystem, said He Jinsheng, leader of the study and a professor at Lanzhou University.

The study proposes new measurement protocols to improve the accuracy of estimating the carbon flux between the atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems, and helps evaluate soil health, he added. Enditem