Evidence of subglacial karstification in Glomdal,Svartisen, Norway

The central Glomdal caves, Storbekkgrotta and Kalkrastgrotta, are found within a 30 m (approximately) thick band of white marble. The karst system is allogenic and the cave morphology and surface topography provide evidence of several phases of development:

1. Phreatic conduit development.

2. Drainage and vadose incision.

3. Partial or complete infill with clastic (glaciogenic) sediments.

4. Glacial truncation of the conduits.

5. Reversed, phreatic flow in the up-hill direction, producing paragenetic halftubes and rock pendants.

6. Partial outwash of the previous infilling sediment.

7. Holocene vadose invasion.

Since the paragenetic features are superimposed onto vadose features, the reversed flow must have occurred after base-level (i.e. bedrock) lowering. Together with the topographical situation of the karst, phase 5 (paragenesis under reversed flow) may be explained by subglacial water flow. This implies a temperate glacier sole at a time when the icefield could over-ride the local valley topography and provide an up-hill directed englacial hydraulic gradient.

The results suggest that sub-glacial water flow may utilize pre-existing karst conduits (which are extremely stable Nye-channels in the glaciohydrologic context) and enlarge them somewhat. It is still not proven that entire cave passages with radii of 1 to 2 m may form under such sub-glacial conditions, as suggested by Horn in 1947. The chemistry and conduit hydrology of deep sub-glacial waters are crucial parameters in this regard.     

Characteristics of the subglacially-formed debris-rich chemical deposits and related subglacial processes of Qiangyong Glacier, Tibet

Subglacially-formed debris-rich chemical deposits were found both on bedrock surface and in bedrock crevice on the edge of Qiangyong Glacier, one of the continental glaciers in Tibet. Grain size distribution, internal structures and chemical components of the chemical deposits were analyzed. It can be inferred that the temperature of some part of the ice-bedrock interface is close to the melting point and there exists pressure melting water under Qiangyong Glacier. Debris, especially those from continental aerosols, can release Ca++ in the water. At the lee-side of obstacles on glacier bed the CO2 in the melting water might escape from the water and the melting water might refreeze due to the dramatically reduced pressure, making the enrichment and precipitation of CaCO3. The existence of subglacial melting water and the process of regelation under Qiangyong Glacier indicate that sliding could contribute some proportion to the entire movement of Qiangyong Glacier and it belongs to multiplex cold-temperate glaciers.     

Characteristics of the subglacially-formed debris-rich chemical deposits and related subglacial processes of Qiangyong Glacier,Tibet

Subglacially-formed debris-rich chemical deposits were found both on bedrock surface and in bedrock crevice on the edge of Qiangyong Glacier, one of the continental glaciers in Tibet. Grain size distribution, internal structures and chemical components of the chemical deposits were analyzed. It can be inferred that the temperature of some part of the ice-bedrock interface is close to the melting point and there exists pressure melting water under Qiangyong Glacier. Debris, especially those from continental aerosols, can release Ca^ in the water. At the lee-side of obstacles on glacier bed the CO2 in the melting water might escape from the water and the melting water might refreeze due to the dramatically reduced pressure, making the enrichment and precipitation of CaCO3. The existence of subglacial melting water and the process of regelation under Qiangyong Glacier indicate that sliding could contribute some proportion to the entire movement of Qiangyong Glacier and it belongs to multiolex cold-temperate glaciers.     

西藏枪勇冰川冰下富碎屑化学沉淀的理化特征与冰下过程

Subglacially-formed debris-rich chemical deposits were found both on bedrock surface and in bedrock crevice on the edge of Qiangyong Glacier, one of the continental glaciers in Tibet. Grain size distribution, internal structures and chemical components of the chemical deposits were analyzed.It can be inferred that the temperature of some part of the ice-bedrock interface is close to the melting point and there exists pressure melting water under Qiangyong Glacier. Debris, especially those from continental aerosols, can release Ca++ in the water. At the lee-side of obstacles on glacier bed the CO2 in the melting water might escape from the water and the melting water might refreeze due to the dramatically reduced pressure, making the enrichment and precipitation of CaCO3. The existence of subglacial melting water and the process of regelation under Qiangyong Glacier indicate that sliding could contribute some proportion to the entire movement of Qiangyong Glacier and it belongs to multiplex cold-temperate glaciers.     

海螺沟冰川地质特征与冰川退缩防治

在全球性气候变暖的背景下,冰川退缩已成为人类面临的重大环境问题。海螺沟冰川是我国典型的季风海洋性冰川,也是世界范围内最完整的山岳冰川,具有高度的观赏性、科研性。据观察,近百年来该冰川表现出持续退缩的状态,保护已迫在眉睫。从规模、结构及分布3个方面论述了海螺沟冰川的地质特征,并探讨了冰川的形成和物质平衡的条件。根据温度、海拔以及表面覆盖物质成份3项对冰川退缩起主要作用的因子,针对海螺沟冰川退缩的严峻现状和冰川地质遗迹开发和保护的具体情况,给出5条进一步防范冰川退缩的措施。     

Glacier Retreat, Mass-Balance and Thinning: Sermilik Glacier, South Greenland

This study documents thinning and retreat of the South Greenland ice margin and discusses possible reasons in the light of mass‐balance and change of dynamic conditions. Analyses of satellite images have shown that the glacier tongue of Sermilik glacier disintegrated within the past 15 years. Furthermore, the observed thinning close to the Sermilik glacier front was as much as 120 m water equivalent during this period. This figure was derived by comparing surface elevation data from a digital elevation model (1985) and laser altimeter measurements from the year 2000, showing surface elevation changes along a flow line of Sermilik glacier. Mass‐balance data from in situ measurements performed at a centre flow line of the glacier are presented. These data are compared to results from remote sensing analyses of the study area. Net ablation reconstruction over the last 41 years from positive‐degree‐day modelling, at various locations along the Sermilik glacier massbalance transect, shows an increase during the past decades. These analyses indicate that only 55% of the total thinning in this area can be explained by mass‐balance changes. The remaining 45% of the thinning is attributed to changes in the dynamic behaviour of the glacier, such as an increase of creep towards the end of the twentieth century. The significant thinning along the Qagssimiut lobe can also be explained as a combination of mass‐balance changes and changes in ice dynamic behaviour.     

Environmental records of snow pits in Yuzhufeng Glacier and Xiao Dongkemadi Glacier in the Tibetan Plateau

The contents and distribution characteristics of ions, n-alkanes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in snow pits on the Yuzhufeng (YZF) Glacier and the Xiao Dongkemadi (XDKMD) Glacier are studied. Parameter characteristics and correlation coefficients between ions and two organic compounds are used to explore the possible sources of these chemical compositions. The results indicated that both glaciers are influenced by west wind circulation, but the contents of ions, n-alkanes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the YZF Glacier are higher than in the XDKMD Glacier because of differences in geographical position. The ratios of ΣnC₂₁^–/ΣnC₂₂⁺ and CPI values (CPI: carbon preference index) indicate that the n-alkanes from natural sources in these two glaciers are mainly derived from higher plants, whereas the contribution from lower organisms was small, also, n-alkanes from anthropogenic sources in the YZF Glacier are higher than in the XDKMD Glacier. The ratios of LPAHs/HPAHs and (Fly+Pyr)/(BghiP+INP) indicate that the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in these two glaciers are mainly derived from low temperature combustion of coal and biomass, and, in the XDKMD Glacier, partially from the vehicle exhaust.     

Effective Sample Size for Glacier Mass Balance

Correlograms from multiple time series of point mass balance, measured on White Glacier (Axel Heiberg Island, Canada) and Abramov Glacier (Alai Range, Kirgizia), show that the correlation decreases with the difference in elevation between the points. The correlogram is used to calculate an integral spatial scale or effective sample area which, when divided into the area of the glacier, yields an estimate of the number of degrees of freedom in a stake-based estimate of the whole-glacier balance. This number – the 'effective sample size'– is a small fraction of the number of point measurements; indeed, it is independent of the number of measurements. Estimates of average balance for elevation bands are at one remove from raw stake measurements, but they are amenable to a principal component analysis which confirms that the effective sample size is very small. The small effective sample size means that uncertainty in a typical measurement of whole-glacier mass balance cannot be much less than the large value implied by the conservative assumption that stakes are perfectly correlated. One way around this difficulty would be to increase the role of prior physical understanding by seeking to model the spatial variability of mass balance. A successful model would need only a few parameters, and would allow for the joint estimation of both magnitude and uncertainty; the uncertainty in mass balance could be derived objectively from the uncertainty in the parameters. This, however, would require good estimates of the variability of mass balance at the elevation-band scale, which might in turn require that many measurement networks be redesigned.     

Light-absorbing impurities on Keqikaer Glacier in western Tien Shan: concentrations and potential impact on albedo reduction

Light-absorbing impurities on glaciers are important factors that influence glacial surface albedo and accelerate glacier melt. In this study, the quantity of light-absorbing impurities on Keqikaer Glacier in western Tien Shan, Central Asia, was measured. We found that the average concentrations of black carbon was 2,180 ng/g, with a range from 250 ng/g to more than 10,000 ng/g. The average concentrations of organic carbon and mineral dust were 1,738 ng/g and 194 μg/g, respectively. Based on simulations performed with the Snow Ice Aerosol Radiative model simulations, black carbon and dust are responsible for approximately 64% and 9%, respectively, of the albedo reduction, and are associated with instantaneous radiative forcing of 323.18 W/m2(ranging from 142.16 to 619.25 W/m2) and 24.05 W/m2(ranging from 0.15 to69.77 W/m2), respectively. For different scenarios, the albedo and radiative forcing effect of black carbon is considerably greater than that of dust. The estimated radiative forcing at Keqikaer Glacier is higher than most similar values estimated by previous studies on the Tibetan Plateau, perhaps as a result of black carbon enrichment by melt scavenging. Light-absorbing impurities deposited on Keqikaer Glacier appear to mainly originate from central Asia, Siberia, western China(including the Taklimakan Desert) and parts of South Asia in summer, and from the Middle East and Central Asia in winter.A footprint analysis indicates that a large fraction(60%) of the black carbon contributions on Keqikaer Glacier comes from anthropogenic sources. These results provide a scientific basis for regional mitigation efforts to reduce black carbon.     

极地冰川底部微生物多样性及对气候变化响应的研究概况及其前景

极地冰盖/冰川底部微生物的生命形态特征及其适应机制研究是当前最前沿的方向之一。越来越多的研究表明: 极地冰盖/冰川底部存在液态水和有机质, 可以为微生物生存提供生境。此外, 微生物参与冰盖/冰川底部地球化学风化过程, 对受气候变化驱使的环境变化尤为敏感。围绕着极地冰川底部微生物多样性及其对气候变化响应的研究主题, 重点介绍极地冰川底部微生物的生命形态特征、可能来源、所参与的地球化学反应机制以及与C、N循环的相互作用。旨在为未来关于冰川底部的研究提供参考。     

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.     

关于广东有无冰川发育条件的讨论

因为“冰臼”一词尚未得到地学界认可，建议继续用“冰川壶穴”来替代“冰臼”。由于生成冰臼（冰川壶穴）与壶穴的水动力条件和地貌形态相似，所以单从形态难以区分广东河床上的壶穴或冰臼，只有确定广东是否发育过第四纪冰川之后，才可能确定广东是否有冰臼。本文从气候、地貌和生物角度证实广东未出现过第四纪冰川环境，并认为所谓：①水应力集中一点生成冰臼；②花岗岩坚硬不能生成壶穴；③二、三百万年前生成冰臼等冰臼论观点是     

Neolithic wooden trackways and bog hydrology

Five wooden trackways in raised bogs located along a precipitation gradient in Northwest Europe (Ireland, England, The Netherlands and Germany), and all dated toc. 2600 cal.BC, show differences in building method related to variable hydrological conditions in the local bog surfaces. Differences in the bearing strength of the highly humified hummock-hollow surfaces can be largely attributed to differences in the climatically related water content of the peat. Water balance studies, based on current climatic data and using the concept of system-linked discharge, can explain the hydrological differences between the ombrotrophic bogs established by archaeological excavations of the wooden trackways. Active peat growth at the time of construction and building methods used indicate mean annual precipitation values similar to present reflecting the modern rainfall gradient.This publication is the fourth paper in a series of papers presented at the session on Past Climatic Change and the Development of Peatlands at the ASLO and SWS Meetings in Edmonton, Canada, May 30–June 3, 1993. Dr P. Kuhry and Dr S. C. Zoltai are serving as Guest Editors.     

近50年来祁连山冰川变化——基于中国第一、二次冰川编目数据

基于修订后的祁连山区第一次冰川编目(1956-1983年)和最新发布的第二次冰川编目数据(2005-2010年),对祁连山区冰川变化进行分析。结果表明:1祁连山区现有冰川2684条,面积1597.81±70.30 km2,冰储量约84.48 km3。其中,甘肃省和青海省各有冰川1492条和1192条,面积分别为760.96 km2和836.85 km2。2祁连山区冰川数量和面积分别以面积1.0 km2的冰川和面积介于1~5 km2的冰川为主;冰川平均中值面积海拔为4972.7 m,并自东向西由4483.8 m逐渐上升为5234.1 m。3疏勒河流域冰川面积和冰储量最大,占祁连山冰川总量的31.91%和35.11%;其次是哈尔腾河流域,巴音郭勒河流域冰川面积最小,为2.20 km2;黑河流域是祁连山区冰川平均面积最小的四级流域,冰川平均面积仅0.21 km2。4近50年间祁连山冰川面积和冰储量分别减少420.81 km2(-20.88%)和21.63 km3(-20.26%)。面积1.0 km2的冰川急剧萎缩是该区冰川面积减少的主要原因,海拔4000 m以下山区冰川已完全消失,海拔4350~5100 m区间冰川面积减少量占冰川面积总损失的84.24%。冰川数量和面积在各个朝向均呈减少态势,其中朝北冰川面积减少最多,朝东冰川面积减少最快,而西北朝向冰川变化最为缓慢。5祁连山冰川变化呈现明显的经度地带性分异,东段冰川退缩较快,中西段冰川面积减少较慢。     

祁连山冰川变化及其脆弱性

Glaciers are a reliable freshwater resource in arid regions of West China and the vulnerability of its changes is closely related to regional ecosystem services and economic sustainable development. Here, we took the Qilian Mountains as an example and analyzed the spatiotemporal characteristics of glacier changes from 1998 to 2018, based on remote sensing images and the Second Chinese Glacier Inventory. We estimated the basic organizational framework and evaluation index system of glacier change vulnerability from exposure, sensitivity and adaptability, which covered the factors of physical geography, population status and socio-economic level. We analyzed the spatial and temporal evolutions of glacier change vulnerability by using the vulnerability evaluation model. Our results suggested that:(1) Glacier area and volume decreased by 71.12±98.98 km² and 5.59±4.41 km³, respectively, over the recent two decades, which mainly occurred at the altitude below 4800 m, with an area shrinking rate of 2.5%. In addition, glaciers in the northern aspect(northwest, north and northeast) had the largest area reduction. Different counties exhibited remarkable discrepancies in glacier area reduction, Tianjuan and Minle presented the maximum and minimum decrease, respectively.(2) Glacier change vulnerability level showed a decreasing trend in space from the central to the northwestern and southeastern regions with remarkable differences. Vulnerability level had increased significantly over time and was mainly concentrated in moderate, high and extreme levels with typical characteristics of phases and regional complexity. Our study can not only help to understand and master the impacts of recent glacier changes on natural and social aspects but also be conducive to evaluate the influences of glacier retreat on socio-economic developments in the future, thus providing references for formulating relevant countermeasures to achieve regional sustainable development.     

Application of Kriging Interpolation for Glacier Mass Balance Computations

In order to compute the specific mass balance of a glacier, point measurements of mass balance need to be integrated and thus interpolated over the entire glacier. In this study kriging was applied as interpolation technique to mass balance data of Storglaciren, a 3 km² valley glacier, focusing on the sensitivity of results to the choice of some kriging parameters. Although the spatial means varied only little in most cases, the spatial distribution of the mass balance quantities was sensitive to the assumption on kriging parameters, suggesting that the kriging parameters need to be carefully optimized for each case if the spatial distribution is of interest.     

Karst and karstification in gypsiferous beds in Mathiesondalen, Central Spitsbergen, Svalbard

Recent karst forms in gypsiferous beds are reported from Mathiesondalen in Central Spitsbergen, where several sinkholes (dolines) and swallow holes have been formed after the deposition of Holocene raised beach sediments. The bedrock of the area is mostly interbedded gypsum/anhydrite and dolomites of the Carboniferous Ebbadalen Formation.