祁连山七一冰川物质平衡的最新观测结果

祁连山七一冰川观测结果表明, 2001/2002年度和 2002/2003 年度冰川物质平衡分别为-810mm和-316 mm水当量, 冰面出现显著的减薄状态. 和过去的观测结果相比较, 20 世纪 70 年代为较大的正平衡, 年平均为360 mm水当量; 80年代年平均为4 mm水当量, 基本接近零平衡状态. 到近两年亏损强烈, 为所有观测资料中负平衡值最大的年份, 零平衡线也达到最高位置. 物质平衡出现较大的负值和零平衡线位置升高的状况, 强烈反映了祁连山冰川对气候变暖过程的响应. 如果气候变暖趋势继续, 冰川物质平衡负值将增大、冰面减薄和雪线的升高, 冰川将继续呈现萎缩状态.

Mass Balance of the Qiyi Glacier in the Qilian Mountains: A New Observation

A new observation has been made on the Qiyi Glacier in the Qilian Mountains since 2001. The observation shows that mass balance of the glacier was -810 mm in 2001/2002 and -316 mm in 2002/2003, respectively, suggesting that the glacier was thinning dramatically. However, the glacier experienced positive mass balance of about 360 mm per year in the 1970s and 4 mm per year in the 1980s. In last two to three years the glacier has characterized by strong negative mass balance and its snow line has gone up steadily. Now the equilibrium line of the glacier has reached the highest altitude since the glacier has been observed. Both the mass balance and snow line respond sensitively to the global warming. Under the condition of global warming, it is expected that the glacier will experience negative mass balance, thinning, shrinking and snow line rising.