The dynamics of contemporary glaciers in the mountains of the south of East Siberia

An analysis is made of the glaciation status of the mountains in the south of East Siberia to reveal a number of characteristics of changes in glacier systems. It is determined that the mountain systems are all experiencing a deglaciation caused by global climatic changes, while the rates of degradation have increased considerably since the late 1980s. It is established that over the last several decades the rate of thawing of glaciers has decelerated according to data for the key sites in the Kodar, Baikal’skii, Barguzin. Munku-Sardyk and Eastern-Sayan mountain ranges, which is associated with a decrease in mean annual air temperatures in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013 after the maximum values in 1990, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2002 and 2007. The changes recorded in the amount of solid atmospheric precipitation do not produce any definite trends in all of the mountain systems analyzed. It is determined that, given a relatively small snow accumulation, the glaciers are fed by snow avalanches and persist due to accumulation of large reserves of cold throughout long and cold winters which impede an intense ablation and promote the sustenance of glaciation. It is pointed out that the thawing of glaciers (especially cirque glaciers) involves a decrease in their thickness, whereas their area changes little.     

基于第二次冰川编目的中国冰川现状

以2004年之后的Landsat TM/ETM+和ASTER遥感影像为基础,参考第一次中国冰川目录及其他文献资料,经过影像校正、自动解译、野外考察、人工修订、交互检查和成果审定等技术环节,完成占全国冰川总面积85.5%的现状冰川编目,确定中国目前共有冰川48571条,总面积约5.18×10⁴βkm²,约占全国国土面积的0.54%,冰川储量约4.3~4.7×10³βkm³。中国冰川数量和面积分别以面积<0.5βkm²的冰川和面积介于1.0~50.0βkm²的冰川为主,面积最大的冰川是音苏盖提冰川（359.05βkm²）。中国西部14座山系（高原）均有冰川分布,其中昆仑山冰川数量最多,其次是天山、念青唐古拉山、喜马拉雅山和喀喇昆仑山,这5座山系冰川数量占全国冰川总数量的72.3%;冰川面积和冰储量位列前3位的山系分别为昆仑山、念青唐古拉山和天山,尽管喀喇昆仑山冰川数量和面积均小于喜马拉雅山,但前者冰储量高于后者。从冰川海拔分布来看,海拔4500~6500βm之间是冰川集中发育区域,约占全国冰川总面积的4/5以上。冰川资源在各流域分布差异显著,东亚内流区（5Y）是中国冰川分布数量最多、面积最大的一级流域,约占全国冰川总量的2/5以上;黄河流域（5J）是冰川数量最少、规模最小的一级流域,仅有冰川164条,面积126.72βkm²。新疆和西藏的冰川面积和冰储量约占全国冰川总面积的9/10。     

The Retreat of Tien Shan Glaciers (Kyrgyzstan) Since the Little Ice Age Estimated from Aerial Photographs, Lichenometric and Historical Data

The retreat of 293 glaciers in the Tien Shan Mountains (Kyrgyz Republic) from their maximum extent during the Little Ice Age (LIA) is estimated using aerial photographs from 1980 to 1985 and maps at a scale of 1:25000, constructed during period 1956–1990. Two indices of changes are used: the linear distance from the glacier terminus to its Little Ice Age moraine and the difference in absolute elevation of the terminus and the moraine. Historical information about the front positions of glaciers in the 1880s to the 1930s was used as an indirect control of remote sensing data. The age of moraines in key regions was estimated by lichenometry. On average, Tien Shan glaciers have retreated by 989 ± 540 m since the LIA maximum. Their front elevations (dh) rose by 151 ± 105 m. These changes are similar to changes observed in the Alps and western Norway, Pamir‐Alay and Koryak plateau, but greater than in east Siberia over the same interval. Differences between four regions in Tien Shan (northern, western, inner, central) are generally small, though in the northern Tien Shan the glacier retreat and frontal rise are more prominent (1065 ± 479 m and 215 ± 140 m, respectively).     

Glacier changes in the Qilian Mountains in the past half-century: Based on the revised First and Second Chinese Glacier Inventory

Glaciers are the most important fresh-water resources in arid and semi-arid regions of western China. According to the Second Chinese Glacier Inventory (SCGI), primarily compiled from Landsat TM/ETM+ images, the Qilian Mountains had 2684 glaciers covering an area of 1597.81±70.30 km2 and an ice volume of ~84.48 km³ from 2005 to 2010. While most glaciers are small (85.66% are <1.0 km²), some larger ones (12.74% in the range 1.0–5.0 km²) cover 42.44% of the total glacier area. The Laohugou Glacier No.12 (20.42 km²) located on the north slope of the Daxue Range is the only glacier >20 km² in the Qilian Mountains. Median glacier elevation was 4972.7 m and gradually increased from east to west. Glaciers in the Qilian Mountains are distributed in Gansu and Qinghai provinces, which have 1492 glaciers (760.96 km²) and 1192 glaciers (836.85 km²), respectively. The Shule River basin contains the most glaciers in both area and volume. However, the Heihe River, the second largest inland river in China, has the minimum average glacier area. A comparison of glaciers from the SCGI and revised glacier inventory based on topographic maps and aerial photos taken from 1956 to 1983 indicate that all glaciers have receded, which is consistent with other mountain and plateau areas in western China. In the past half-century, the area and volume of glaciers decreased by 420.81 km² (–20.88%) and 21.63 km³ (–20.26%), respectively. Glaciers with areas <1.0 km² decreased the most in number and area recession. Due to glacier shrinkage, glaciers below 4000 m completely disappeared. Glacier changes in the Qilian Mountains presented a clear longitudinal zonality, i.e., the glaciers rapidly shrank in the east but slowly in the central-west. The primary cause of glacier recession was warming temperatures, which was slightly mitigated with increased precipitation.     

1990-2020年间念青唐古拉山中段北坡边坝地区冰川变化及气候响应

念青唐古拉山作为青藏高原东南缘重要山古冰川分布区,受季风影响,各区域冰川变化特征差异明显。论文通过Landsat TM/ETM+/OLI资料、ASRTMGDEM与气象数据,采用比值—阈值法、目视解译和VOLTA模型,结合实地考察,对1990—2020年间念青唐古拉山中段北坡边坝地区现代冰川进退状况、面积变化、冰储量变化以及冰川变化对气候变化响应特征进行研究。结果表明：① 1990—2020年5条冰川(玉贡拉冰川、玛拉波冰川、祥格拉冰川、孔嘎冰川、贡日—庚东冰川)末端高程逐渐升高,面积和冰储量分别减少30.38 km²和4.64 km³,总体缩减并呈现加速趋势。② 冰川冰储量减少0.14~1.92 km³,总体变化率为0.40%·a^-1。2020年上述5条冰川储量占1990年冰川储量的比例分别为0.70、0.99、0.98、0.91和0.82,显示出冰川规模越大,在短时间尺度的变化量越小。③ 气象数据分析显示,1990—2020年研究区冰川变化受气温升高主导,平均气温变化率为0.51 ℃。水热组合呈现温度升高—降水减少,且在最后10 a日益显著,预测未来冰川变化仍受气温控制并呈加速退缩趋势。④ 区域对比研究表明,念青唐古拉山冰川面积变化总体呈退缩状态,但各区域冰川变化特征差异明显。同时,不同研究方法对同一冰川区冰储量模拟结果相差较大,相对误差范围为34.45%~115.49%,精确的冰储量可对比研究方法仍有待进一步研究。     

Characteristics of the circulation regime over Kodar range during the glacier ablation period

Using monthly bulletins of the Irkutsk Center for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring for June–August 2009–2011, a synoptic analysis was made of the atmospheric circulation over the area of Kodar Range. Based on results from analyzing the surface and altitude maps, isobaric fields (NCEP/NCAR) and temperature measurements on the Sygykta Glacier (Kodar), we investigated the correlations between ablation on the glacier and the meso- and macrocirculation processes in the lower troposphere.     

1959-2008年新疆阿尔泰山友谊峰地区冰川变化特征

 利用1959年地形图、2008年ASTER数字遥感影像及数字高程模型,在地理信息系统技术支持下分析了新疆阿尔泰山友谊峰地区冰川的变化特征。研究表明：1959-2008年该区冰川整体呈萎缩趋势,且变化幅度相对较大。相对于1959年,2008年冰川面积和数量分别变化-32.5%和-27.9%。其中,小于1 km2的冰川面积平均变化率为-66.7%,面积小于0.5 km2的冰川面积变化率大于-70%,面积大于1 km2以上的冰川面积变化率为-35.0%,1~5 km2的冰川面积变化率为-27.9%。冰川末端平均后退253 m,末端退缩比例为-18.3%,且南坡冰川末端变化率大于北坡。分析发现,研究区冰川面积亏损较大主要缘于该区小冰川分布数量较多（面积小于1 km2的冰川数量达75%),对气候变化的响应较为敏感。     

Dynamics of the glaciers of the Turgen-Kharkhira mountain range (Western Mongolia)

On the basis of space-acquired images from the Landsat 7,7 satellites (1992, 2002) and the topographic map at a scale of 1:200 000 (1969), we investigated the patterns of spatio-temporal changes of glaciation of the plexus of the Turgan-Kharkhira mountains (Western Mongolia). The study ascertained the dynamics of the areas and volumes of the glaciers for 33 years as well as the changes in glacier runoff for five mountain river basins.     

Surface hydrological processes of rock glaciated basins in the San Juan Mountains,Colorado

Glaciers in the western USA contribute summer meltwater to regional hydrological systems. In the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, where glaciers do not exist, rock glaciers serve that function during the summer runoff period. Most rock glaciers in Colorado are located on northern slopes in mountainous areas; however, some rock glaciers in southwest Colorado have different aspects. In this study, we asked how slope aspect and rising air temperatures influence the hydrological processes of streams sourced from rock glaciers in the San Juan Mountains. We focused on three adjacent basins, Yankee Boy basin, Blue Lakes basin, and Mill Creek basin, which share a common peak, Gilpin Peak. Using HOBO® U20-001–04 water-level loggers, streamflow data were collected in each of these basins, below each rock glacier. Air temperature significantly influenced stream discharge below the rock glacier. Discharge and air temperature patterns indicate a possible air temperature threshold during late summer when rock glacier melt increases at a greater rate. The results also suggest that the aspect of rock glacier basins influences stream discharge, but that temperature and precipitation are likely larger components of melt regimes.     

新疆阿尔泰山东段冰碛物光释光测年研究

冰川是塑造地表形态最积极的外营力之一,对冰川地貌的年代学研究是重建古冰川发展史的关键,也是研究气候变化的重要途径。冰碛物是冰川作用的直接产物,代表过去发生的冰川事件,对冰碛物进行准确测年能够为重建古冰川的进退、理解区域古气候变化提供年代学支撑。本文在新疆阿尔泰山东段采集了8个冰碛物样品以进行光释光测年,利用单片再生剂量法对90~125 μm的石英颗粒进行等效剂量的测定。通过等效剂量值频率分布特征及De（t）坪区图分析得出大部分冰碛物的光释光信号晒退不彻底,所以利用一阶动力学公式对持续激发的光释光信号晒退曲线（CW-OSL）进行多组分拟合拆分,得到快速、中速、慢速3种组分,依据分离出的快速组分确定等效剂量值。研究结果显示,距今32 ka以来阿尔泰山东段区域在MIS3阶段、MIS2阶段、8.2 ka左右、全新世大暖期及新冰期等5个时段有冰川发育,冰川发育与气候变化密切相关。     

近50a来天山博格达峰地区四工河4号冰川表面高程变化特征

基于GIS技术,利用GPS测量数据和1962年地形图分别建立两期DEM,通过对比重点研究了四工河4号冰川1962-2009年冰舌区的表面高程变化特征。结果表明:1962-2009年间,冰舌区平均减薄15±10 m,年均减薄约0.32±0.2 m,冰储量亏损达(14.3±9.5)×10-3km3,折合水当量(12.9±8.6)×10-3km3。不同海拔、坡度区间冰面高程变化差异显著,海拔较低、坡度较缓区域的变化最为强烈。在气候变暖的趋势下,四工河4号冰川发生强烈消融,标志着博格达峰地区的冰川正处于物质严重亏损的状态,直接影响到流域水资源状况。     

Paleolimnological records of recent glacier recession in the Rwenzori Mountains,Uganda-D. R. Congo

The status of tropical glaciers is enormously important to our understanding of past, present, and future climate change, yet lack of continuous quantitative records of alpine glacier extent on the highest mountains of tropical East Africa prior to the 20th century has left the timing and drivers of recent glacier recession in the region equivocal. Here we investigate recent changes (the last 150–700 years) in lacustrine sedimentation, glacier extent, and biogeochemical processes in the Rwenzori Mountains (Uganda- Democratic Republic of Congo) by comparing sedimentological (organic and siliciclastic component determined by loss-on-ignition; LOI) and organic geochemical profiles (carbon and nitrogen abundance, ratio, and isotopic composition of sedimentary organic matter) from lakes occupying presently glaciated catchments against similar profiles from lakes located in catchments lacking glaciers. The siliciclastic content of sediments in the ‘glacial lakes’ significantly decreases towards the present, whereas ‘non-glacial lakes’ generally show weak trends in their siliciclastic content over time, demonstrating that changes in the siliciclastic content of glacial lake sediments primarily record fluctuations in glacier extent. Radiometric dating of our sediment cores indicates that prior to their late 19th-century recession Rwenzori glaciers stood at expanded ‘Little Ice Age’ positions for several centuries under a regionally dry climate regime, and that recession was underway by 1870 AD, during a regionally wet episode. These findings suggest that the influence of late 19th century reductions in precipitation in triggering Rwenzori glacier recession is weaker than previously thought. Our organic geochemical data indicate that glacier retreat has significantly affected carbon cycling in Afroalpine lakes, but trends in aquatic ecosystem functioning are variable among lakes and require more detailed analysis.     

RS analysis of glaciers change in the Heihe River Basin,Northwest China,during the recent decades

The Heihe River Basin is the second largest inland river basin in Northwest China and it is also a hotspot in arid hydrology, water resources and other aspects of researches in cold regions. In addition, the Heihe River Basin has complete landscape, moderate watershed size, and typical social ecological environmental problems. So far, there has been no detailed assessment of glaciers change information of the whole river basin. 1：50,000 topographic map data, Landsat TM/ETM＋ remote sensing images and digital elevation model data were used in this research. Through integrated computer automatic interpretation and visual interpretation methods, the object-oriented image feature extraction method was applied to extract glacier outline information. Glaciers change data were derived from analysis, and the glacier variation and its response to climate change in the period 1956/1963–2007/ 2011 were also analyzed. The results show that：（1） In the period 1956/1963–2007/2011, the Heihe River Basin＇s glaciers had an evident retreat trend, the total area of glaciers decreased from 361.69 km2 to 231.17 km~2; shrinking at a rate of 36.08%, with average single glacier area decrease 0.14 km~2; the total number of the glaciers decreased from 967 to 800.（2） Glaciers in this basin are mainly distributed at elevations of 4300–4400 m, 4400–4500 m and 4500–4600 m; and there are significant regional differences in glaciers distribution and glaciers change.（3） Compared with other western mountain glaciers, glaciers retreat in the Heihe River Basin has a higher rate.（4） Analysis of the six meteorological stations＇ annual average temperature and precipitation data from 1960 to 2010 suggests that the mean annual temperature increased significantly and the annual precipitation also showed an increasing trend. It is concluded that glacier shrinkage is closely related with temperature rising, besides, glacier melting caused by rising temperatures greater than glacier mass supply by increased precipitation to     

1990-2011年西昆仑峰区冰川变化的遥感监测

本文应用Landsat 5、7 TM、ETM+影像分析1990-2011年昆仑山西段昆仑峰区冰川变化特征,结果表明:1990-2011年冰川面积减少16.83 km²,退缩率仅为0.65%,冰川退缩趋势不明显。单条冰川变化有进有退,中峰冰川末端在2002-2004年以661 m/a的速率前进,初步判定为跃动冰川。1991-1998年,崇测冰川面积增加9.47 km²,冰川末端以200 m/a的速率前进,不排除有跃动冰川的可能性。尽管近年来全球气温普遍上升,大量冰川处于退缩状态,但统计已有研究结果发现近50年来青藏高原存在冰川长度、面积增加,冰川物质平衡为正的现象,表现出冰川对气候变化复杂的反馈机制。通过分析气象站点和冰芯资料,研究区周边地区气温上升、降水量缓慢增加可能是冰川微弱退缩的原因之一;增强的西风环流带来更多的降水、研究区以极大陆型大规模冰川为主,也可能是冰川退缩幅度较小的原因。     

东亚季风影响区末次冰期冰川作用的控制性因素

东亚季风气候控制下的山地与岛屿冰期历史、冰川规模及其分布规律对深入探讨中国第四纪冰川的发生机制以及全球变化具有重要的科学意义。最新的绝对年代结果显示,中国东部及东亚沿海岛屿山地(包括中国台湾岛,日本本州岛、北海道,朝鲜盖马高原,俄罗斯远东山地等)的冰期启动与消亡时间存在显著差异,但均严格控制在末次冰期范围之内,相当于深海氧同位素阶段(MIS)4至2,冰川的发育规模在末次冰期早中期(MIS3/4)大于末次冰盛期(MIS2)。对研究区各山地和岛屿末次冰期冰川发育的基本特点进行比较后,明确了影响东亚季风影响区冰川作用的主要控制性因素有：气候因素、构造因素、纬度因素和海陆位置等,它们控制着末次冰期冰川的发生、分布与期次。在此控制性因素影响下,东亚低海拔山地不会出现比末次冰期更早的冰川作用。     

近50 年气候变化背景下中国冰川面积状况分析

根据近年来中国典型区域冰川面积变化遥感监测数据,结合139 个地面站的气温、降水量与28 个探空站的0 ℃层高度气象资料,分析了近50 年气候变化背景下中国冰川面积状况。结果表明,研究区冰川面积从20 世纪60-70 年代的23982 km²减小到21 世纪初的21893 km²,根据冰川分布进行加权计算后冰川面积退缩了10.1%,对时间插补后得到1960 年以来的冰川面积年均变化率为0.3 % a^-1。就冰川面积变化的空间分布特征而言,天山的伊犁河流域、准噶尔内流水系、阿尔泰山的鄂毕河流域、祁连山的河西内流水系等都是冰川退缩程度较高的区域。近50 年中国冰川区夏季地面气温与大气0 ℃层高度均呈上升趋势,而降水量的增幅却相对轻微,增长的降水量不足以抵消升温对冰川的影响,气候变暖是影响冰川面积变化的主要因素。     

1959年来中国天山冰川资源时空变化

基于两期冰川编目数据与气象数据,对天山1959年来冰川资源的时空变化特征进行研究。研究发现：① 天山地区现有冰川7934条,面积7179.77 km²,冰储量756.48 km³。冰川数量以面积< 1 km²的冰川居多,面积以1~10 km²和≥ 20 km²的冰川为主,冰川集中分布在海拔3800~4800 m之间。② 在四级流域中,阿克苏河流域冰川面积最大为1721.75 km²,面积最小的是伊吾河流域,为56.03 km²。在各市（州）中,阿克苏地区冰川资源量最多,其面积和储量分别占天山总量的43.28%和68.85%;冰川资源量最少的市（州）是吐鲁番地区,面积和储量仅占天山总量的0.23%和0.07%。③ 1959年来,天山地区冰川面积减少了1619.82 km²（-18.41%）,储量亏损了104.78 km³（-12.16%）,其中数量以< 1 km²的冰川减少最多,面积减少以< 5 km²的冰川最为严重。④ 冰川变化呈现明显的区域差异,变化速度最快的是天山东段博格达北坡流域,变化最慢的是中部的渭干河流域。初步分析认为夏季气温显著上升带来的消融大于年内降水带来的积累是天山冰川退缩的主要原因。     

1973-2010年阿尔金山冰川变化

利用1973 年MSS、1999 年ETM+和2010 年TM遥感影像资料,通过遥感图像处理和GIS技术,提取了阿尔金山地区三个时期的冰川信息,同时结合周边气象资料进行分析。结果表明:① 1973-2010 年,研究区冰川面积从347.99 km² 减少到293.77 km²,退缩了54.22km²,占1973 年冰川总面积的15.58%,年均退缩速率为0.42%·a^-1。近10 年来冰川退缩尤为剧烈,年均退缩速率达到0.58%·a^-1;② 研究区东段冰川退缩速率快于中段和西段;③ 冰川规模越小,退缩越明显;④ 研究区东坡冰川的面积退缩率最大,北坡次之,东南坡最小;⑤ 气温升高和降水在波动中变化不大是造成研究区冰川退缩的主要原因;⑥ 通过分形理论对研究区冰川空间结构特征进行分析,预计研究区冰川今后的消融速率仍将处于较高状态。     

Glacier area changes in the Nujiang-Salween River Basin over the past 45 years

Automated image classification and visual interpretation of Landsat imagery were used to extract the glacier boundary in the Nujiang-Salween River Basin (NSRB) around the years 1975, 2000, and 2020. The spatiotemporal characteristics of glacier area changes in the NSRB were determined and the reasons for the spatial heterogeneity in glacier area changes were discussed, based on comparative analyses of temperature and precipitation data from meteorological stations around the NSRB. The results indicate that 1) the total glacier area in the NSRB decreased by 477.78 km² (28.17%) at a rate of -0.62%/a in 1975-2020. Most shrinkage occurred at low and mid altitudes, with the most severe occurring at 5290-5540 m, accounting for 40% of the total shrinkage. Considering other river basins in China, the relative glacier area change rate in the NSRB was similar to that for typical inland river basins in northwest China but lower than that for other transboundary river basins in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. 2) These areal changes in the NSRB presented obvious regional differences. The glaciers in the Hengduan Mountains retreated significantly, followed by those in the Nyainqentanglha Mountains, with relatively low shrinkage observed in the Tanggula Mountains. The number of cold and hot spots indicating areal changes increased after 2000, along with their spatial heterogeneity. 3) The glacier shrinkage rate over different time intervals was positively correlated with temperature. Thus, spatial heterogeneity of climate change effects could elucidate differences in the glacier area change rate in different regions of the NSRB. The temperature rise was determined as the primary reason for the significant glacial retreat over the past 45 years. As the significant warming trend continues, the glacier area in the NSRB is likely to shrink further.     

近30年来天山托木尔峰东侧分水岭处冰川变化

利用1978年出版的航测地形图与1976年MSS影像(地形图于20世纪70年代初期测绘)、1990年landsatTM影像、2002年CBERS影像对西天山托木尔峰以东分水岭处的5条冰川近30年来的动态变化进行了研究。研究结果表明,这5条冰川在1970年代初-2002年近30年来整体上处于退缩状态,这与该地区20世纪80、90年代气温升高导致冰雪消融加速而冬季降水量基本稳定即补给来源基本不变的趋势是相符合的。这也表明,在气候变暖的趋势下,该地区冰川的补给-消融动态平衡关系被打破,冰川总体上处于退缩状态。