Because it is the largest and highest plateau in the world, the Tibetan Plateau plays an important role in the global atmospheric energy and water cycles. The large water resource stored in this region and its downstream transports support nearly 40% of the world population, including China, India, and many Southeast and East Asian countries. The Tibetan Plateau accounts for nearly one-quarter of the total land area of China, but meteorological observational and operational stations are scarce over this vast land. This has contributed to the uncertainties in the prediction of high-impact weather over the plateau and regions downstream, and in the monitoring and diagnostics of global climate.