Dynamics of an active rock glacier (Ötztal Alps, Austria)

The rock glacier Innere Ölgrube, located in a small side valley of the Kauner Valley (Ötztal Alps, Austria), consists of two separate, tongue-shaped rock glaciers lying next to each other. Investigations indicate that both rock glaciers contain a core of massive ice. During winter, the temperature at the base of the snow cover (BTS) is significantly lower at the active rock glacier than on permafrost-free ground adjacent to the rock glacier. Discharge is characterized by strong seasonal and diurnal variations, and is strongly controlled by the local weather conditions. Water temperature of the rock glacier springs remains constantly low, mostly below 1°C during the whole melt season. The morphology of the rock glaciers and the presence of meltwater lakes in their rooting zones as well as the high surface flow velocities of >1 m/yr point to a glacial origin. The northern rock glacier, which is bounded by lateral moraines, evolved from the debris-covered tongue of a small glacier of the Little Ice Age with its last highstand around A.D. 1850. Due to the global warming in the following decades, the upper parts of the steep and debris-free ice glacier melted, whereas the debris-covered glacier tongue transformed into an active rock glacier. Due to this evolution and due to the downslope movement, the northern rock glacier, although still active, at present is cut off from its ice and debris supply. The southern rock glacier has developed approximately during the same period from a debris-covered cirque glacier at the foot of the Wannetspitze massif.     

Holocene alpine glaciation inferred from lacustrine sediments on northeastern Baffin Island,Arctic Canada

With accelerated melting of alpine glaciers, understanding the future state of the cryosphere is critical. Because the observational record of glacier response to climate change is short, palaeo‐records of glacier change are needed. Using proglacial lake sediments, which contain continuous and datable records of past glacier activity, we investigate Holocene glacier fluctuations on northeastern Baffin Island. Basal radiocarbon ages from three lakes constrain Laurentide Ice Sheet retreat by ca. 10.5 ka. High sedimentation rates (0.03 cm a^?1) and continuous minerogenic sedimentation throughout the Holocene in proglacial lakes, in contrast to organic‐rich sediments and low sedimentation rates (0.005 cm a^?1) in neighbouring non‐glacial lakes, suggest that glaciers may have persisted in proglacial lake catchments since regional deglaciation. The presence of varves and relatively high magnetic susceptibility from 10 to 6 ka and since 2 ka in one proglacial lake suggest minimum Holocene glacier extent ca. 6–2 ka. Moraine evidence and proglacial and threshold lake sediments indicate that the maximum Holocene glacier extent occurred during the Little Ice Age. The finding that glaciers likely persisted through the Holocene is surprising, given that regional proxy records reveal summer temperatures several degrees warmer than today, and may be due to shorter ablation seasons and greater accumulation‐season precipitation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatial change detection of glacial lakes in the Koshi River Basin,the Central Himalayas

Region warming and the resulting ongoing deglaciation have led to the formation of new glacial lakes and expansion of existing glacial lakes. For giving an overview of the distribution and expansion of glacial lakes in the Koshi River Basin (KRB) between the Central China and Nepal Himalayas in the recent 10 years, this paper aimed to analyze and assess recent spatial variability of glacial lake changes in the KRB, Central Himalayas using two inventory data of glacial lake in 2001 and 2010 in Nepal and Landsat TM/ETM+ data for the 1990s, 2000 and 2009 on the Chinese section of the KRB. The datasets show that there are 1,203 glacial lakes with a total area of 118.54 km² in the KRB in 2009, in which 599 lakes are mapped in the Nepalese section of the KRB with a total of 25.92 km², and 604 lakes in the Chinese section of the KRB with a total area of 92.62 km². From 2000 to 2009, the total number of glacial lakes decreased from 1,668 to 1,203 with a reduction of 45.86 % in the KRB, whereas the total lake areas expanded by 10.60 % (i.e. 0.72 km²/a), from 111.35 to 118.54 km² between 2000, 2001 and 2009, 2010. Especially, 17 lakes are identified as potentially dangerous glacial lakes (PDGLs) by International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) on the Nepalese section of the KRB in 2009. In the same period, 23 PDGLs are also identified on the Chinese section of the KRB and the total area increased by 77.46 % (i.e. 0.37 km²/a) from 1990 to 2010 and the expansion rate is significantly higher than 39 % (0.19 km²/a) of non-PDGLs. Therefore, there is a need for promoting the awareness of the hazard potential of glacier lakes to support proper planning of mitigation and adaptation strategies in this context.     

石羊河流域冰川变化与地形因子的关系探究

以甘肃省石羊河流域为研究区,运用GIS和RS技术结合人工目视解译,提取了1995年、2002年、2009年、2015年、2016年5期遥感影像冰川边界信息。结合DEM数据提取了坡度、朝向、海拔三个地形因子。基于相关性分析与地理探测器的方法,对冰川变化与地形因子进行了相关分析,并研究了冰川变化与地形因子之间的空间关系。结果表明：（1）该地区冰川年均面积变化率由1973-1995年的-1.27%·a^-1变为2015-2016年的-2.87%·a^-1,消融速度加快,面积小于0.1 km²的小冰川消融显著;（2）石羊河流域冰川分布主要的朝向是N、NE、NW,朝向与冰川变化具有一定相关性,南坡退缩较快;（3）坡度与冰川变化呈异向相关,海拔高度控制着冰川的消融速度,低海拔冰川的退缩幅度更大;（4）地形因子对冰川变化空间分异的影响显著不同,海拔是冰川变化空间分异最重要的控制因素,其次是朝向,最后是坡度。     

Monitoring cryosphere and associated flood hazards in high mountain ranges of Pakistan using remote sensing technique

Knowledge of Himalayan cryosphere seems to be an outstanding requirement for assessment of glacier storage, water balance analysis, planning of water resources and flood hazard monitoring. A stepwise approach through mapping glaciers and glacial lakes using satellite remote sensing data and investigating potential glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) hazards was adopted for the three Hindukush, Karakoram and Himalayan (HKH) ranges of Pakistan. The findings of the study revealed 5,218 glaciers in the cryosphere of HKH ranges. The cumulative glacial cover of over 15,000 km² contains ice reserves of about 2,738 km³. About 46 % of the Karakoram glaciers are contributing 77 % to the total glacial cover and 87 % to the cumulative ice reserves of the country. The 33 % Himalayan glaciers and 21 % Hindukush glaciers contribute only 3 and 10 % ice reserves, respectively. Among 2,420 glacial lakes identified in the three HKH ranges, 52 were classified as critical lakes that can pose GLOF hazard for the downstream communities. Most of the potential hazardous lakes lie in the Karakoram and Himalayan ranges, the monitoring of which is crucial to reduce high risk of future floods hazard in this fragile mountain ecosystem of the Himalayan region.     

近几十年来喜马拉雅山冰川变化及其对水资源的影响

对近几十年来喜马拉雅山地区冰川变化的研究成果进行了综述,可以看出:气温普遍升高、冰川加剧退缩和冰川湖泊扩大是喜马拉雅山地区气候和冰川变化的主要特征和后果.冰川退缩导致冰川灾害的危险性增加并对本地区河流径流和水资源产生较长远的影响.但各段的气候、冰川变化及其影响存在区域差异,还需要对冰川变化和水资源影响方面的预估进行更广泛和深入的研究.     

Debris control on glacier thinning—a case study of the Batal glacier,Chandra basin,Western Himalaya

Complex factors such as climate, glacial geometry, topographical features and debris covers have significant influence on the dynamics of the Himalayan glaciers. Presence of debris covers on the surface of glaciers can significantly alter the surface energy balance and influence the climatic response of glaciers. In this study, the influence of debris covers and its impact on the ablation processes were analyzed from the in situ data collected over the surface of the Batal glacier in Chandra Basin, Western Himalaya. Almost 90 % of the ablation zone of the Batal glacier is covered by debris, 35 % of which is thick debris (>10 cm). Fourteen stakes (depth ～10 m) with increasing altitude and with varying debris thicknesses were installed to cover the whole ablation zone. Among them, four stakes represent thin debris (<2 cm), two stakes represent 2–5 cm debris thickness, two stakes represent 5–25 cm debris thickness, three stakes represent 25–50 cm debris thickness and three stakes represent >50 cm debris thickness. Our study has revealed high surface melting (?2.0 cm. w.e.d^?1) in the debris free glacier while low surface melting observed in thick debris covered ice (?0.6 cm. w.e.d^?1). Although limited to one season, this observation revealed a significant difference in the rate of surface melting as per the increasing debris thickness. Contrasting to normal ablation pattern over glaciers, Batal has experienced inverse retreat rate of ablation along with increasing altitude. A high degree of negative correlation (r = ?0.82, p < 0.05) between ablation rate and debris thickness in Batal suggest a significant control of debris thickness over ablation rate.     

表碛覆盖型冰川的提取方法及变化

表碛覆盖型冰川是山地冰川的一种特殊类型,表碛的存在使得其对气候变化呈现出不同的响应特征。基于2011—2020年Landsat TM/ETM+/OLI遥感影像和ASTER DEM数据,在综合分析表碛光谱、地形和地表温度特征基础上提出TDSI(temperature NDDI slope ice)方法,并将其用于提取中国境内托木尔冰川等6条大陆型冰川和雅弄冰川等3条海洋型冰川。结果表明：基于TDSI方法提取表碛覆盖型冰川的总体精度为91.23%,其中大陆型和海洋型表碛覆盖冰川的精度分别为91.20%和90.97%。2011—2020年6条大陆型冰川和3条海洋型冰川面积平均减少0.06%和0.11%,而表碛面积分别增加了11.92%和18.35%。大陆型冰川表碛主要分布在其中值海拔以下,而海洋型冰川表碛分布范围更广,近10年间二者均呈现向冰川上部扩张趋势。气温上升是冰川消融退缩和表碛增加的主要原因,同时冰川流速变化和终碛湖演变也对表碛变化有一定影响。     

Snowmelt runoff and groundwater discharge in Himalayan rivers: a case study of the Satluj River,NW India

The Himalayas are one of the largest cryospheric systems outside the Polar Regions, and include more than 12,000 glaciers spread over an area of about 33,000 km². The Himalayan glaciers and snow packs retreating at an accelerating rate, thereby creating an alarming situation for the huge population that resides in northwestern India and southeastern Pakistan, as they depend on surface water resources in the region and rivers emanating from the Himalayas. This work attempts to quantify the contribution of different sources such as glacial/ice/snow melt and groundwater discharge to the Satluj River using the stable isotopes based hydrograph separation method at Ropar (foot hill) and Yusufpur in plain of Punjab, India. A mass balance model of three-component mixing has been engaged using the values of δ¹⁸O and electrical conductivity of the river water, and its discharge fraction, to estimate the time-varying relative proportion of each component from July 2013 to January 2014. The proportion of glacier melt was found to peak up to ~?64% at Ropar and ~?15% at Yusufpur during the wet summer months. The fraction of groundwater discharge was found to vary between 10–20% at Ropar and 25–35% at Yusufpur (Punjab plain) over time. The observed trend of d-excess (deuterium excess) values of river water also suggests that the glaciers and snow packs at higher altitudes contain a significant fraction of snow derived from vapor originating in the Mediterranean region, driven by the mid-latitude westerlies known as western disturbances.     

中国喜马拉雅山地区冰川1999—2015年期间动态变化遥感调查

根据完成的青藏地区基于1999年ETM、2014/2015年GF-1/OLI两期遥感调查的冰川编目数据,对1999-2015年期间中国喜马拉雅山地区的冰川变化进行分析。结果显示,从1999-2015年间,中国喜马拉雅山地区的冰川普遍退缩,冰川数量减少了85条,面积减少了42.00 km^2,冰储量减少了2.385 km^3,分别占其减少变化率的1.53%、0.67%和0.50%。沿山脉由东向西冰川变化不一,其中东段的冰川数量减少多,西段的冰川面积和冰储量减少多,并且东段的数量减少变化率远大于西段,西段的面积、冰储量减少变化率大于东段,中段的冰川相对稳定。喜马拉雅山地区的冰川在北、北东和东等方向上发生退缩,且减少量依次减少,其中东向的数量减少变化率最大,北东向的面积减少变化率最大,而北向的减少变化率最小。冰川在不同坡度退缩程度不一,在坡度10°~15°范围冰川面积退缩最多、变化率最大,在坡度30°~35°范围数量减少最多、变化率最大。冰川在高程5 500~6 000 m区间数量和面积退缩量最多,其次是在高程5 000~5 500 m区间;在高程3 500~4 000 m区间的退缩变化率最大,而在高程6 000~6 500 m区间的退缩变化率最小。不同流域中冰川变化差异较大,在雅鲁藏布江流域(5O2)冰川数量和面积减少最多,其次是朗钦藏布等流域(5Q2)和朋曲等流域(5O1),而扎日南木措流域(5Z3)的冰川减少量最小,但是变化率最大。总之,小冰川的大规模退缩或者消失,较大冰川也普遍退缩,是喜马拉雅山地区冰川变化的特点。喜马拉雅山地区冰川退缩与气候变化关系密切。根据多年年平均气温和年降水量分析,自1961年以来,该地区年平均气温显著上升,年降水量有增有减,但气温上升、降水量减少是导致冰川消融原因之一。     

Comparative studies of glacier mass balance and their climatic implications in Svalbard, Northern Scandinavia, and Southern Norway

On the basis of the data of glacier mass balance during 1946?C2005 over Svalbard, Northern Scandinavia, and Southern Norway, the characteristics of glacier mass-balance are analyzed, and its sensitivity to climate change is calculated using a simple degree-day model. The mass balance of glaciers in these three regions reached maximum or comparatively high values in the late 1980s or the early 1990s. After that there was an accelerating negative tendency. A glacier with more positive mass balance has a higher sensitivity to equilibrium-line altitude (or climate) change and vice versa. On average, the mass loss during the entire period in these three regions was equivalent to the result of an air temperature rise of 0.32°C relative to zero net balance state. The highest temperature increase is found in Svalbard, and is 0.55°C; however, a rise of only 0.12°C is found in Southern Norway. The net balance sensitivity to a hypothetical air temperature increase of +1°C ranges from ?0.31 to ?1.03?m?w.e.?a^?1, and the net balance sensitivity to an assumed increase in snow precipitation of +10% varies from +0.05 to +0.37?m?w.e.?a^?1; thus, a 31% increase in snow precipitation is needed to compensate for the net mass loss induced by an air temperature increase of +1°C. The summer balance sensitivity to a hypothetical air temperature increase of +1°C varies from ?0.39 to ?0.95?m?w.e.?a^?1, and the winter balance sensitivity to an assumed increase in snow precipitation of +10% ranges from +0.02 to +0.38?m?w.e.?a^?1. This study confirms early findings that maritime glaciers have comparatively higher mass balance sensitivity than continental glaciers.     

Debris flows triggered from non-stationary glacier lake outbursts: the case of the Teztor Lake complex (Northern Tian Shan,Kyrgyzstan)

One of the most far-reaching glacier-related hazards in the Tian Shan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan is glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and related debris flows. An improved understanding of the formation and evolution of glacial lakes and debris flow susceptibility is therefore essential to assess and mitigate potential hazards and risks. Non-stationary glacier lakes may fill periodically and quickly; the potential for them to outburst increases as water volume may change dramatically over very short periods of time. After the outburst or drainage of a lake, the entire process may start again, and thus these non-stationary lakes are of particular importance in the region. In this work, the Teztor lake complex, located in Northern Kyrgyzstan, was selected for the analysis of outburst mechanisms of non-stationary glacial lakes, their formation, as well as the triggering of flows and development of debris flows and floods downstream of the lakes. The different Teztor lakes are filled with water periodically, and according to field observations, they tend to outburst every 9–10 years on average. The most important event in the area dates back to 1953, and another important event occurred on July 31, 2012. Other smaller outbursts have been recorded as well. Our study shows that the recent GLOF in 2012 was caused by a combination of intense precipitation during the days preceding the event and a rapid rise in air temperatures. Analyses of features in the entrainment and depositional zones point to a total debris flow volume of about 200,000 m³, with discharge ranging from 145 to 340 m³ s^?1 and flow velocities between 5 and 7 m s^?1. Results of this study are key for a better design of sound river corridor planning and for the assessment and mitigation of potential GLOF hazards and risks in the region.     

Interactions between rock avalanches and glaciers in the Mont Blanc massif during the late Holocene

Rock avalanches are common in the Mont Blanc massif, which is bordered by valleys with large resident and tourist populations and important highways. This paper combines historical data with detailed geomorphological mapping, stratigraphic observation, and absolute and relative dating, to interpret several deposits resulting from rock avalanching onto glaciers.Nineteen rock falls and rock avalanches are described, ranging in volume from 10,000 m³ to 10 × 10⁶ m³. They occurred between 2500 BP and AD 2007 at six sites. The events at three sites (Miage and Drus Glaciers, and Tour des Grandes Jorasses) are characterised by short travel distances; those at Brenva, Triolet, and Frébouge Glaciers exhibit excessive travel distances.Interactions between rock avalanches and glaciers are of four types: (i) rock-avalanche triggering, where glacial and paraglacial controls include debuttressing of rockwalls due to glacier thinning and retreat, oversteepening of rock slopes by glacial erosion, and effects of glaciers on permafrost; (ii) rock-avalanche mobility, in which mobility and travel distance are modified by channelling of rock-avalanche debris by moraines and valleys, incorporation of ice and snow (often >50% for large events), and irregularities on the glacier surface; (iii) deposit sedimentology, where melting of incorporated ice transforms the final deposit by reducing its thickness typically to <5 m, and debris of variable thicknesses is juxtaposed in a hummocky deposit with chaotic piles of angular rock debris; and (iv) glacier dynamics where insulating debris deposited upon a glacier produces a debris-covered glacier of different dynamics, and high elevated scars can favour the formation of small glaciers.     

A geospatial analysis of Samudra Tapu and Gepang Gath glacial lakes in the Chandra Basin,Western Himalaya

Geospatial studies carried out in two major proglacial lakes of Samudra Tapu and Gepang Gath (Chandra Basin, Western Himalaya) showed substantial expansion in their area and volume over the last four decades (1971–2014). The linear and areal expansions for the lakes Samudra Tapu and Gepang Gath were 1889, 1509 m and 1, 0.6 km², respectively. The results show that increased melting of the feeder glaciers over this period is major contributor to expand the volumes approximately 20 times of both the lakes Samudra Tapu and Gepang Gath. This expansion of lakes volume of Samudra Tapu and Gepang Gath from 3.4 × 10⁶ to 67.7 × 10⁶ and 1.5 × 10⁶ to 27.5 × 10⁶ m³, respectively, is quite significance in terms of hazards generated from glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF). This kind of climate change induced increase in the rate of glacial melting is a cause of concern, as the Himalaya Mountains may turn out to be vulnerable to natural hazards like GLOF.     

基于GF 1光谱数据的青藏地区冰川资源现状遥感调查

以2014—2015年的GF 1为主、少量OLI影像为基础,参考第二次中国冰川目录等文献资料,修编完成青海省和西藏自治区两省区的现代冰川编目,查明青藏两省区目前共有冰川24 796条,总面积约2624×104 km2,约占青藏两省区区域面积的137%,冰川储量为2027×103~2121×103 km3。调查区冰川数量以面积<10 km2、冰川面积介于10~100 km2之间的冰川为主,其中面积<10 km2的冰川有19 983条,占总数量的8059%,面积介于10~100 km2之间的冰川面积为11 96240 km2,占总面积的4559%;面积最大的中锋冰川的面积达23737 km2。调查区内的山系(高原)均有冰川分布,念青唐古拉山冰川数量最多,其次是喜马拉雅山和冈底斯山,这3座山系冰川数量占调查区内冰川总数量的6333%;念青唐古拉山、喜马拉雅山和昆仑山的冰川面积和冰储量位列前3位,其冰川面积和冰储量分别占总数的6809%和7344%;然而昆仑山和羌塘高原的单条冰川的平均面积大于念青唐古拉山和喜马拉雅山的平均面积。从冰川海拔分布来看,海拔5 000~6 500 m之间是冰川集中发育区域,约占调查区冰川数量和冰川总面积的85%以上。调查区的冰川在各流域的分布差异显著,恒河流域是冰川分布数量最多、面积最大的一级外流区,其数量占冰川总量的47%以上,面积占总面积的52%以上;青藏高原内陆流域的冰川数量、面积次之,其冰川数量占总数量的21%,面积占总面积的24%以上,并且内流区单条冰川的平均面积略大于外流区的平均面积。总体上,西藏的冰川数量、面积和冰储量分别占西藏和青海两省区的8492%、8492%、8668%,单条冰川的平均面积两省区相近。     

Impact analysis of climate change on Kolahoi Glacier in Liddar Valley,north-western Himalayas

Glaciers are among the most conspicuous and dynamic features on the earth’s surface and are also highly sensitive to changes in climatic parameters. Glaciers in the Kashmir Himalayas have been reported to be retreating due to climate forcing. Kolahoi Glacier is one of the largest and important glaciers of the Kashmir Himalayas and is the main source of Liddar River, which is the largest tributary of the Jhelum River system. In the present study, an analysis to assess the response of Kolahoi Glacier to the changing climate was carried out using the Survey of India (SoI) map and multi-temporal Landsat satellite data. The results show a significant change in the spatial extent of Kolahoi Glacier. The total area of this glacier has reduced from 12.21 km² in 1962 to 11.61 km² in 2010. An analysis of meteorological data (temperature and precipitation) shows that the average annual temperature increased from 9.1 °C in 1980–1989 to 10.3 °C in 2000–2009, while the precipitation decreased from 1329.44 to 1126.89 mm during the same period. The results suggest that this glacier will be annihilated completely if the same retreating trend continues.     

CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> flux variation and its contribution area in the debris-covered area of Koxkar Glacier,Mt. Tianshan in China

During the formation and development of glacial meltwater runoff, hydrochemical erosion is abundant, especially the hydrolysis of K/Na feldspar and carbonates, which can consume H⁺ in the water, promote the formation of bicarbonate by dissolving atmospheric CO₂, and affect the regional carbon cycle. From July 21, 2015, to July 18, 2017, the CO₂ concentration and flux were observed by the eddy covariance (EC) method in the relatively flat and open moraine cover area of Koxkar Glacier in western Mt. Tianshan, China. We found that: (1) atmospheric CO₂ fluxes ranged from ??408.95 to 81.58 mmol m^?2 day^?1 (average ? 58.68 mmol m^?2 day^?1), suggesting that the study area is a significant carbon sink, (2) the CO₂ flux footprint contribution areas were primarily within 150 m of the EC station, averaging total contribution rates of 93.30%, 91.39%, and 90.17% of the CO₂ flux in the snow accumulation, snow melting, and glacial melting periods, respectively. Therefore, the contribution areas with significant influences on CO₂ flux observed at EC stations were concentrated, demonstrating that grassland CO₂ flux around the glaciers had little effect at the EC stations, (3) in the predominant wind direction, under stable daytime atmospheric stratification, the measurement of CO₂ flux, as interpreted by the Agroscope Reckenholz Tanikon footprint tool, was 79.09% ± 1.84% in the contribution area. This was slightly more than seen at night, but significantly lower than the average under unstable atmospheric stratification across the three periods of interest (89%). The average distance of the farthest point of the flux footprint under steady state atmospheric conditions was 202.61?±?69.33 m, markedly greater than that under non-steady state conditions (68.55?±?10.34 m). This also indicates that the CO₂ flux observed using EC was affected primarily by hydrochemical erosion reactions in the glacier area, (4) a good negative correlation was found between net glacier exchange (NGE) of CO₂ and air temperature on precipitation-free days. Strong ice and snow ablation could promote hydrochemical reactions of soluble substances in the debris area and accelerated sinking of atmospheric CO₂. Precipitation events might reduce snow and ice melting, driven by reduced regional temperatures. However, a connection between NGE and precipitation, when less than 8.8 mm per day, was not obvious. When precipitation was greater than 8.8 mm per day, NGE decreased with increasing precipitation, (5) graphically, the slope of NGE, related to daily runoff, followed a trend: snow melting period?>?snow accumulation period?>?early glacial ablation period?>?late glacier ablation period?>?dramatic glacier ablation period. The slope was relatively large during snow melting, likely because of CO₂ sinking caused by water–rock interactions. The chemical reaction during elution in the snow layer might also promote atmospheric CO₂ drawdown. At the same time, the damping effect of snow cover and the almost-closed glacier hydrographic channel inhibited the formation of regional runoff, possibly providing sufficient time for the chemical reaction, thus promoting further CO₂ drawdown.     

1993-2016年喀喇昆仑山什约克流域冰川变化遥感监测

基于1993、2000、2016年的多景Landsat TM/ETM+/OLI影像,通过目视解译法提取冰川边界,从规模、朝向、高程带和前进冰川等多个方面分析了近20年来喀喇昆仑山什约克流域冰川面积变化特征。结果表明：近20年来研究区冰川呈微弱退缩态势,年均退缩率仅为0.05%±0.20%,其中1993-2000年退缩速率为（0.03%±0.64%）·a^-1,2000-2016年退缩速率为（0.06%±0.27%）·a^-1。1993-2016年什约克流域291条冰川的末端发生了前进现象,在一定程度上减小了冰川总面积退缩的幅度。此外,近20年来研究区冰川前进现象呈减弱态势。近35年来什约克流域气温显著上升,降水量亦呈增加趋势,气温的显著上升是冰川退缩的主要原因,而降水量的增加则是冰川退缩速率相对较低的主要原因。     

Glacial lakes and glacial lake outburst flood in a Himalayan basin using remote sensing and GIS

Glacial hazards relate to hazards associated with glaciers and glacial lakes in high mountain areas and their impacts downstream. The climatic change/variability in recent decades has made considerable impacts on the glacier life cycle in the Himalayan region. As a result, many big glaciers melted, forming a large number of glacial lakes. Due to an increase in the rate at which ice and snow melted, the accumulation of water in these lakes started increasing. Sudden discharge of large volumes of water with debris from these lakes potentially causes glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in valleys downstream. Outbursts from glacier lakes have repeatedly caused the loss of human lives as well as severe damage to local infrastructure. Monitoring of the glacial lakes and extent of GLOF impact along the downstream can be made quickly and precisely using remote sensing technique. A number of hydroelectric projects in India are being planned in the Himalayan regions. It has become necessary for the project planners and designers to account for the GLOF also along with the design flood for deciding the spillway capacity of projects. The present study deals with the estimation of GLOF for a river basin located in the Garwhal Himalaya, India. IRS LISSIII data of the years 2004, 2006 and 2008 have been used for glacial lake mapping, and a total of 91 lakes have been found in the year 2008, and out of these, 45 lakes are having area more than 0.01?km². All the lakes have been investigated for vulnerability for potential bursting, and it was found that no lake is vulnerable from GLOF point of view. The area of biggest lake is 0.193, 0.199 and 0.203?km² in the years 2004, 2006 and 2008, respectively. Although no lake is potentially hazardous, GLOF study has been carried out for the biggest lake using MIKE 11 software. A flood of 100-year return period has been considered in addition to GLOF. The flood peak at catchment outlet comes out to be 993.74, 1,184.0 and 1,295.58 cumec due to GLOF; 3,274.74, 3,465.0 and 3,576.58 cumec due to GLOF; and 100-year return flood together considering breach width of 40, 60 and 80?m, respectively.     

1990—2018年中巴经济走廊冰湖时空变化特征

中巴经济走廊是贯通南北丝路的关键枢纽。在全球变暖的背景下, 区域内冰川变化情况复杂, 部分冰川出现前进或跃动现象, 冰湖溃决的风险在不断上升, 进而威胁中巴经济走廊的建设与民生安全。基于1990—2018年Landsat TM/ETM+/OLI遥感影像, 利用目视解译方法提取了中巴经济走廊3期冰湖编目数据, 并分析了28年来该区域内冰湖的总体变化趋势、 空间异质性以及成因。结果表明： 中巴经济走廊目前共发育有2 380个冰湖, 总面积为（131.76±19.08） km², 集中分布于喀喇昆仑山脉和喜马拉雅山脉; 1990—2018年期间, 冰湖总体面积扩张速度为0.48%·a^-1, 但各个山脉不同规模冰湖面积变化差异较大。中巴经济走廊在气温和降水的共同作用下, 区内冰湖面积呈扩张趋势, 同时气温和降水变化率的空间差异使得冰湖面积变化存在空间差异; 冰川的快速退缩增加了区内冰湖溃决的风险。