Dear TPE Community,

As the end of 2019 draws near, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for an extraordinary year. Every year is different, but this one has been particularly special for TPE in many ways. 2019 marks the 10th anniversary of TPE. When TPE was was launched in 2009, the -co-chairs envisioned a science program that would make a difference in how people understand, develop and preserve the Third Pole region through international collaboration to conduct advanced environmental research.

Ten years later, TPE scientists have found the region is becoming warmer and wetter. Climate and cryosphere changes have affected current and future water availability and security of the Third Pole. Known as the “Asian water towers,” the TP mountains supply vital water resources to over 2 billion people. A study led by TPE scientists recently ranked Asian water towers as the world’s most important and most vulnerable system.

TPE research objectives focus on process studies, sustainability and well-being of regional/local communities. To this end, TPE has built a network of stations to monitor changes in Asian water towers. This year the network Has expanded to include tethered balloons that collected key atmospheric water vapor transport data from altitudes up to 7000m.This year, TPE also has organized a series of workshops to address challenges in understanding the changes in Asian water towers. For example, at the High Mountain Summit organized by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), with TPE as a key partner, TPE proposed integration of observation and information systems as an important response to Asian water tower changes.

The success of TPE is based on the international cooperation network we have built over the past decade.This year we made further progress in building this network.As the year wraps up, we are happy to announce a MOU with WMO and the opening of a new TPE office in Frankfurt, Germany. A TPE project has also been endorsed by the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) as Flagship Pilot Studies. In addition, we have expanded the scope of cooperation with AGU, Arctic Circle, UNEP and UNESCO.

The TPE office is also growing with time. This year we are proud to present our brand-new website(www.tpe.ac.cn), where you can learn all about us. We would also like to take this opportunity to invite you to share(tpe@itpcas.ac.cn) your findings, projects and job opportunities on our website.

TPE would not be where we are without your support over the last 10 years.We are grateful for the opportunity to work with, and for, you. Our passion for science remains strong and our commitment to local communities remains firm.Our enthusiasm and anticipation are increasing along with new opportunities and new TPE activities. We invite you to stay tuned for more TPE progress in the New Year!

Happy Holidays!

The International Program Office of Third Pole Environment