New int'l monitoring standard paves way for better karst management

The world's first international standard on karst monitoring, recently published by the international Organization for Standardization (ISO), has provided standardized protocols in managing the delicate landscape.

The standard, titled Specification of Monitoring Technology for Karst Critical Zones, is led by scientists from China, where karst accounts for nearly one-third of the land area.

The newly released standard sets specific requirements for high-precision real-time monitoring with a focus on carbon-water-calcium cycling.

"From the surface to deep into the caves, we conduct real-time monitoring of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, soil, and inside the caves, recording a set of data every 5 to 15 minutes. At the same time, we monitor carbon changes in rainfall, surface water, soil water, and groundwater," said Xiao Qiong, a researcher of the Institute of Karst Geology under the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences.

Karst terrain is widely distributed worldwide, spanning 22 million square kilometers and supplying domestic and industrial water to roughly a quarter of the world's population.

"The release of the new standard can guide the monitoring of soil moisture, organic carbon, calcium, and various other nutrient elements, facilitating a better understanding of their cycling mechanisms. This, in turn, provides a scientific basis for offering recommendations on soil and water conservation," said Zhang Cheng, another researcher from the Institute of Karst Geology.

The standard also unifies the construction criteria for karst critical zone monitoring stations, forming standardized protocols covering monitoring procedures, data collection and processing, and information sharing services, making karst carbon cycle monitoring more accurate.

New int'l monitoring standard paves way for better karst management

Cities across China are decorating landmark sites with national flags and floral displays as National Day is around the corner.

Yuzhong District of southwest China's Chongqing City is displaying over 2,000 flags alongside carefully arranged floral landscapes covering main roads, commercial hubs, and bridges. In Shexian County of east China's Anhui Province, red flags are fluttering amid the Huizhou Ancient City's floral greenery.

At the Wenshan Dongshan Park in southwest China's Yunnan Province, citizens unfurled a giant 24-by-16 meter national flag, singing vibrant songs to express their heartfelt wishes. Cities such as Chengdu in southwest China, Taiyuan in north China, and Yichang in central China are also showcasing the five-star flag to usher in the holiday.

Flower displays bloom throughout streets and parks, with cities of Fuzhou in the east and Daqing in the northeast hosting themed floral exhibitions that brighten public spaces. Markets bustle with activity as fresh produce flows steadily. In Zhongmu, Henan Province in central China, trucks loaded with pomegranate, honey tangerines and kiwi line up early to meet demand. In Urumqi City of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, flower markets bloom with over a thousand varieties meeting diverse consumer preferences.

Ahead of the holiday, Hong Kong's streets have been adorned with bright national and special administrative region (SAR)'s flags alongside large National Day posters. Community groups are holding cultural activities featuring traditional crafts to celebrate the 77th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China.

In Macao, national flags wave at border checkpoints, streets, parks and squares, paired with celebratory banners creating a lively National Day atmosphere.

Cities across China adorned for National Day celebrations