The water source of snow, ice and desertification

The Source of the Cele River is the northern slope of the Mushi Tage Glacier. It flows into an oasis on the southern margin of the Taklimakan Desert from south to north and disappears into the desert on the northern part of the oasis. The Cele River is supplied by rainfall on the highland region and about 46% of the runoff is from snowmelt. Glaciers, as a source of rivers, are retreating on a large scale. Between a glacier and the desert heat exchange by mountain and valley wind intensifies glacial melt. The price paid for increases in discharge of rivers is decrease of glaciers. Therefore, we suggest that people should plant trees and forests on the middle-mountain region of valleys to reduce the strength of mountain and valley winds to preserve glaciers. This will keep stable the long-time water source and will retard the process of desertification on the oasis.