<p>When checking global flight tracking maps, a massive blank space sits directly over the Tibetan Plateau in western China. Despite this region being a logical, direct route between major Asian and Middle Eastern travel hubs, commercial airlines actively route flights around it. This empty airspace is strictly due to aviation safety regulations and extreme geographical hazards, rather than political disputes. Understanding aircraft technical specifications reveals exactly why passenger jets steer clear of the Roof of the World.</p><h2>The 10,000-foot cabin depressurisation rule</h2><p>The primary reason airlines avoid this region involves strict cabin pressure protocols. If a passenger aircraft loses cabin pressure, aviation safety regulations mandate an immediate descent to 10,000 feet, which is 3,048 metres. At this safe altitude, passengers can breathe normally without masks.</p><p>Commercial aircraft use chemical oxygen generators that supply roughly 15 to 22 minutes of breathable air. Over oceans or flat land, this is plenty of time to descend safely. However, the Tibetan Plateau spans an enormous area with an average elevation of 4,500 metres. A plane would need to fly for much longer than 20 minutes to find terrain low enough to reach 3,048 metres, making the route a severe safety risk.</p><h2>One-engine drift down limitations</h2><p>In the rare event of an engine failure, a twin-engine commercial jet cannot maintain a standard cruising altitude of 35,000 feet. The aircraft must execute a slow descent, known as a drift down procedure, to a single-engine cruising altitude. This is typically around 20,000 to 25,000 feet depending on the weight of the aircraft.</p><p>The Himalayas feature the highest peaks on Earth, including Mount Everest at 8,848 metres. A standard passenger jet operating on just one engine would struggle to clear these jagged mountain peaks safely.</p><h2>A severe lack of diversion airports</h2><p>Aviation rules require aircraft to have suitable emergency diversion airports along their route. The Tibetan Plateau covers millions of square kilometres but offers very few runways capable of handling large wide-body jets.</p><p>The airports that do exist, such as Lhasa Gonggar, are situated at extreme altitudes and require specially modified aircraft and highly trained crews for a safe landing. Furthermore, the sheer size of the mountain range creates dangerous weather patterns. High-altitude winds hitting the Himalayas generate severe clear air turbulence, making emergency operations even more hazardous.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Modern airlines always prioritise passenger safety over shorter flight times. The strict technical limits of passenger oxygen systems, combined with extreme mountain elevations and a lack of emergency runways, guarantee that the airspace over the Himalayas will remain largely empty.</p>

Commercial airlines actively avoid flying over the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas due to severe geographical risks. The extreme elevation prevents safe descents during cabin depressurisation, while a severe lack of emergency airports limits routes.

When checking global flight tracking maps, a massive blank space sits directly over the Tibetan Plateau in western China. Despite this region being a logical, direct route between major Asian and Middle Eastern travel hubs, commercial airlines actively route flights around it. This empty airspace is strictly due to aviation safety regulations and extreme geographical hazards, rather than political disputes. Understanding aircraft technical specifications reveals exactly why passenger jets steer clear of the Roof of the World. The 10,000-foot cabin depressurisation rule The primary reason airlines avoid this region involves strict cabin pressure protocols. If a passenger aircraft loses cabin pressure, aviation safety regulations mandate an immediate descent to 10,000 feet, which is 3,048 metres. At this safe altitude, passengers can breathe normally without masks. Commercial aircraft use chemical oxygen generators that supply roughly 15 to 22 minutes of breathable air. Over oceans or flat land, this is plenty of time to descend safely. However, the Tibetan Plateau spans an enormous area with an average elevation of 4,500 metres. A plane would need to fly for much longer than 20 minutes to find terrain low enough to reach 3,048 metres, making the route a severe safety risk. One-engine drift down limitations In the rare event of an engine failure, a twin-engine commercial jet cannot maintain a standard cruising altitude of 35,000 feet. The aircraft must execute a slow descent, known as a drift down procedure, to a single-engine cruising altitude. This is typically around 20,000 to 25,000 feet depending on the weight of the aircraft. The Himalayas feature the highest peaks on Earth, including Mount Everest at 8,848 metres. A standard passenger jet operating on just one engine would struggle to clear these jagged mountain peaks safely. A severe lack of diversion airports Aviation rules require aircraft to have suitable emergency diversion airports along their route. The Tibetan Plateau covers millions of square kilometres but offers very few runways capable of handling large wide-body jets. The airports that do exist, such as Lhasa Gonggar, are situated at extreme altitudes and require specially modified aircraft and highly trained crews for a safe landing. Furthermore, the sheer size of the mountain range creates dangerous weather patterns. High-altitude winds hitting the Himalayas generate severe clear air turbulence, making emergency operations even more hazardous. Modern airlines always prioritise passenger safety over shorter flight times. The strict technical limits of passenger oxygen systems, combined with extreme mountain elevations and a lack of emergency runways, guarantee that the airspace over the Himalayas will remain largely empty.

<p>Commercial airlines actively avoid flying over the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas due to severe geographical risks. The extreme elevation prevents safe descents during cabin depressurisation, while a severe lack of emergency airports limits routes.</p>

Why commercial airlines avoid flying over the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau

<p>Scientists have issued a warning that extreme climatic conditions in the Amazon rainforest may have a direct impact on those in the Tibetan Plateau.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Scientists on Thursday said that the Himalayan region crucial for the water security of millions of people was close to a potentially disastrous "tipping point".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, the Tibetan Plateau is a source of supply water needs of almost two billion people across South Asia, Southeast Asia and China.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Areas including, tropical forests in the Amazon basin can be submerged in water as experts have noted that melting polar ice sheets could cause metres of sea-level rise.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Scientists in China, Europe and Israel reported in Nature Climate Change earlier this month that the changes linked to the climate in the Amazon basin have knock-on effects on the Tibetan Plateau 20,000 kilometres (12,500 miles) away.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Co-author Jurgen Kurths from Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research: "We've been surprised to see how strongly climate extremes in the Amazon are connected to climate extremes in Tibet."&nbsp;</p>

<p>During the research, the scientists have found that temperatures rise in Tibet when it gets warmer in the Amazon and snowfall decreases in the Himalayan region when rain increases in the South American rainforest.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The news agency AFP reported that the researchers used global near-surface temperature data over the last 40 years to map out a pathway of climate links.&nbsp;</p>

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<h2><strong>One-third of Amazon 'degraded'&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Another study researchers said Thursday that more than one-third of the Amazon rainforest may have been degraded by human activity and drought. The researchers suggested that action is needed to protect the critically important ecosystem.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

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Scientists have issued a warning that extreme climatic conditions in the Amazon rainforest may have a direct impact on those in the Tibetan Plateau. Scientists on Thursday said that the Himalayan region crucial for the water security of millions of people was close to a potentially disastrous "tipping point".

Scientists have issued a warning that extreme climatic conditions in the Amazon rainforest may have a direct impact on those in the Tibetan Plateau. Scientists on Thursday said that the Himalayan region crucial for the water security of millions of people was close to a potentially disastrous "tipping point". Notably, the Tibetan Plateau is a source of supply water needs of almost two billion people across South Asia, Southeast Asia and China. Areas including, tropical forests in the Amazon basin can be submerged in water as experts have noted that melting polar ice sheets could cause metres of sea-level rise. Scientists in China, Europe and Israel reported in Nature Climate Change earlier this month that the changes linked to the climate in the Amazon basin have knock-on effects on the Tibetan Plateau 20,000 kilometres (12,500 miles) away. Co-author Jurgen Kurths from Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research: "We've been surprised to see how strongly climate extremes in the Amazon are connected to climate extremes in Tibet." During the research, the scientists have found that temperatures rise in Tibet when it gets warmer in the Amazon and snowfall decreases in the Himalayan region when rain increases in the South American rainforest. The news agency AFP reported that the researchers used global near-surface temperature data over the last 40 years to map out a pathway of climate links. × One-third of Amazon 'degraded' Another study researchers said Thursday that more than one-third of the Amazon rainforest may have been degraded by human activity and drought. The researchers suggested that action is needed to protect the critically important ecosystem. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Climate extremes in Amazon rainforest directly impact those in Tibetan Plateau

Climate extremes in the Amazon rainforest are directly affecting those in the Tibetan Plateau, scientists said Thursday, warning that the Himalayan region crucial for the water security of millions was close to a potentially disastrous "tipping point".

WION Climate Tracker: Amazon heat drives Tibet temperatures

<p>According to reports, China is building a dam on the Tibetan plateau using artificial intelligence while ensuring there is no&nbsp;human intervention.</p>

<p>The grand structure will reportedly be built through AI using 3D printing techniques. The Yangqu hydropower plant is set to be completed in the next two years&nbsp;and will reportedly provide electricity to Henan province.</p>

<p>China has been focused on building large hydroelectric power plants with the Three Gorges Dam being the biggest which reportedly provides electricity to east, central and south China's Guangdong province.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/record-floods-raise-questions-about-chinas-three-gorges-dam-313169">Also Read:&nbsp;Record floods raise questions about China's Three Gorges Dam</a></p>

<p>The Xiluodu hydropower station on the Jinsha Jiang river is another giant project which was undertaken by Chinese authorities. It&nbsp;became operational in 2014. It is reported to be the major source of renewable energy for the country as China looks to reduce emissions and its dependency on coal.</p>

<p>The Longtan hydroelectric power plant on the Hongshui river is another large electricity generator which feeds Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces including capital Beijing and Shanghai.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Growing list of Dams in the US are in 'poor condition'</strong></p>

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<p>Scientists have been studying the efficiency of dams through Artificial intelligence especially for monitoring purposes in order to locate risky dams including keeping a check on embankments and predicting the effect of heavy rainfall on the dam.</p>

<p>Artificial intelligence techniques also help to track dam maintenance and repairs remotely with data which can ensure mapping of electricity generation over a period of time.</p>

<p>China depends greatly on hydroelectricity which is its second-biggest source of energy after coal with authorities hard pressed to meet carbon neutral goals by 2060.&nbsp;</p>

<p>(With inputs from Agencies)</p>

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According to reports, China is building a dam on the Tibetan plateau using artificial intelligence while ensuring there is no human intervention. The grand structure will reportedly be built through AI using 3D printing techniques.

According to reports, China is building a dam on the Tibetan plateau using artificial intelligence while ensuring there is no human intervention. The grand structure will reportedly be built through AI using 3D printing techniques. The Yangqu hydropower plant is set to be completed in the next two years and will reportedly provide electricity to Henan province. China has been focused on building large hydroelectric power plants with the Three Gorges Dam being the biggest which reportedly provides electricity to east, central and south China's Guangdong province. Also Read: Record floods raise questions about China's Three Gorges Dam The Xiluodu hydropower station on the Jinsha Jiang river is another giant project which was undertaken by Chinese authorities. It became operational in 2014. It is reported to be the major source of renewable energy for the country as China looks to reduce emissions and its dependency on coal. The Longtan hydroelectric power plant on the Hongshui river is another large electricity generator which feeds Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces including capital Beijing and Shanghai. Watch: Growing list of Dams in the US are in 'poor condition' Scientists have been studying the efficiency of dams through Artificial intelligence especially for monitoring purposes in order to locate risky dams including keeping a check on embankments and predicting the effect of heavy rainfall on the dam. Artificial intelligence techniques also help to track dam maintenance and repairs remotely with data which can ensure mapping of electricity generation over a period of time. China depends greatly on hydroelectricity which is its second-biggest source of energy after coal with authorities hard pressed to meet carbon neutral goals by 2060. (With inputs from Agencies) Watch WION LIVE HERE ×

China eyes AI powered 3D-printed dam on Tibetan plateau: Report

Meraj and Johan embark on a bucket list ride to Mustang Valley in Nepal. Their destination is the city of Lo Manthang—one of the remotest parts of the world that lies sandwiched between the upper Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau.

WION Traveller S3 Episode 7—Epic Ride to Mustang Valley

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Why commercial airlines avoid flying over the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau

Climate extremes in Amazon rainforest directly impact those in Tibetan Plateau

WION Climate Tracker: Amazon heat drives Tibet temperatures

China eyes AI powered 3D-printed dam on Tibetan plateau: Report

WION Traveller S3 Episode 7—Epic Ride to Mustang Valley