The first team of Chinese scientists has headed for Lop Nur, known as the "Sea of Death", in northwest Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, to study climate change and its effects.

The move, which aims to probe environmental changes in the Lop Nur area, is part of a national program which focuses on studying the continental environment in China.

Covering 2,570 square kilometers, Lop Nur, to the north of Ruoqiang County, used to be the biggest lake in northwest China, but it dried up in 1972 as a result of desertification and deterioration of the ecological environment.

Sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, scientists will first conduct research in areas near Taitema Lake, which used to be part of Lop Nur, in Ruoqiang County.

They will drill rock samples from strata 800 meters underground to study the course, time and causes of Lop Nur's dehydration and its link with droughts in northwest China.

They will also take rock core samples from strata 50 meters underground in the area near Taitema Lake and at the center of LopNur.

Scientists also hope that the research will form the basis for harnessing and restoring the area's ecological environment and improve public understanding of how sandstorms are formed and when they will happen.

(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2003)