Last glacial maximum climate inferences from cosmogenic dating and glacier modeling of the western Uinta ice field, Uinta Mountains, Utah

During the last glacial maximum (LGM), the western Uinta Mountains of northeastern Utah were occupied by the Western Uinta Ice Field. Cosmogenic ¹⁰Be surface-exposure ages from the terminal moraine in the North Fork Provo Valley and paired ²⁶Al and ¹⁰Be ages from striated bedrock at Bald Mountain Pass set limits on the timing of the local LGM. Moraine boulder ages suggest that ice reached its maximum extent by 17.4 ± 0.5 ka (± 2σ). ¹⁰Be and ²⁶Al measurements on striated bedrock from Bald Mountain Pass, situated near the former center of the ice field, yield a mean ²⁶Al/¹⁰Be ratio of 5.7 ± 0.8 and a mean exposure age of 14.0 ± 0.5 ka, which places a minimum-limiting age on when the ice field melted completely. We also applied a mass/energy-balance and ice-flow model to investigate the LGM climate of the western Uinta Mountains. Results suggest that temperatures were likely 5 to 7°C cooler than present and precipitation was 2 to 3.5 times greater than modern, and the western-most glaciers in the range generally received more precipitation when expanding to their maximum extent than glaciers farther east. This scenario is consistent with the hypothesis that precipitation in the western Uintas was enhanced by pluvial Lake Bonneville during the last glaciation.     

Lambert冰川流域东西两侧气候环境变化

1992~1993年,中国科学家参加了澳大利亚南极考察队对Lambert冰川流域西侧的考察,1996起,中国南极考察队对Lambert流域东侧进行了多次考察。本文基于以上考察的研究成果,对Lambert冰川流域东西两侧气候环境变化特征进行了对比研究。结果表明：Lambert冰川两侧无论是降水还是温度,在几十年时间尺度上其变化趋势都存在着明显差异,Lambert冰川东西两侧从海岸向内陆近500 km断面上表面积累速率的分布截然不同,同时,Lambert冰川东西两侧的δ¹⁸O随温度的变化率 (又简称δ－温度梯度) 差别也很大,另外,反映水汽输送强度的海盐离子浓度近50年来的变化趋势相反。以上证据表明,Lambert冰川谷地可能是东南极洲一条重要的气候界线,其原因可能是特殊的局地环流 (顺时针的气旋活动) 导致不同的水汽来源,再加上局部地形的影响所致。     

现代冰川体积变化研究方法综述

冰川作为气候变化的指示器,在气候变暖的趋势下呈加速退缩的趋势。冰川消融加速对海平面上升、区域水循环和水资源可获取性均有重要影响。冰川体积作为冰川研究的一项重要内容,越来越被研究者关注。围绕极地冰盖、山地冰川体积研究概况,较系统地总结分析研究冰川体积变化的方法,主要包括传统测量方法、统计公式法、冰川地形测量法和遥感监测法,现代冰川体积变化的研究也由传统的实地测量、统计公式法等向遥感监测研究发展,并分析各方法在主要冰川类型中的应用情况。借助遥感手段监测冰川动态变化可有效解决高寒山区资料受限的问题,成为冰川学发展的重要趋势。     

中国西部大陆性冰川与海洋性冰川物质平衡变化及其对气候响应——以乌源1号冰川和帕隆94号冰川为例

为认识全球变暖背景下中国西部大陆性冰川与海洋性冰川物质平衡变化及其对气候响应,本研究以天山乌鲁木齐河源1号冰川和藏东南帕隆94号冰川为例,结合大西沟与察隅站气象资料,对1980 — 2015年两条冰川的物质平衡变化特征及差异进行了分析。结果表明：36 a来乌源1号冰川与帕隆94号冰川物质平衡总体上均呈下降趋势,累积物质平衡达-17102与-8159 mm w.e.,相当于冰川厚度减薄19与9.01 m,且分别于1996、2004年左右发生突变。同期两条冰川所处区域年均温呈显著上升趋势,而降水量却表现出不同的变化态势;二者年内气温分配相仿,但降水分配差异较大。初步分析认为气温上升是导致乌源1号冰川与帕隆94号冰川物质亏损的主要原因,冰川区气温和降水变化幅度的差异和地性因子（坡度、冰川面积）的不同使得乌源1号冰川对气候变化响应的敏感性高于帕隆94号冰川,由于目前海洋性冰川物质平衡监测时段相对较短,为深入研究中国西部冰川物质平衡变化及过程仍需加强对冰川的持续观测。     

Surface mass balance and ice flow of the glaciers Austre Lovénbreen and Pedersenbreen, Svalbard, Arctic

The glaciers Austre Lovenbreen and Pedersenbreen are located at Ny-Alesund, Svalbard. The surface mass balance and ice flow velocity of both glaciers have been determined from the first year of observations (2005/2006), while the front edge of Austre Lovenbreen was also surveyed. The results are as follows : (1) The net mass balances of Austre Lovenbreen and Pedersenbreen are -0. 44 and -0. 20 m w. e. , the annual ablation is -0. 99 and -0. 94 m w. e. . and the corresponding equilibrium line altitudes are 478. 10 and 494. 87 m, respectively. (2) Austre Lovenbreen and Pedersenbreen are characterized as ice flow models of surge-type glaciers in Svalbard. The horizontal vectors of the ice flow velocities are parallel or converge to the central lines of both glaciers, with lower velocities in the lower ablation areas and higher velocities in the middle and upper reaches of the glaciers. The vertical vectors of ice flow velocities show that there is a mass loss in the ablation areas, which reduces with increasing altitude, while there is a mass gain near the equilibrium line of Austre Lovenbreen. (3) The front edge of Austre Lovenbreen receded at an average rate of 21. 83 m·a-1, with remarkable variability-a maximum rate of 77. 30 m·a-1 and a minimum rate of 2. 76 m·a-1.     

祁连山老虎沟12号冰川积累区消融期能量平衡特征

为研究冰川消融期积累区的能量平衡,利用2006年6月21日-7月31日祁连山老虎沟12号冰川海拔5040 m气象观测资料,分析了冰川的能量平衡各分量变化特征,估算了冰川表面的能量平衡组成.结果表明:冰川消融期,净辐射是冰川的主要热量来源(占82.1%),其次是感热通量(占17.9%);冰川消融耗热是主要的能量支出项(占...     

帕米尔中部North Kyzkurgan冰川跃动变化遥感监测

跃动冰川作为一种特殊类型的冰川,蕴含着巨大的灾害风险,对其开展监测研究具有重要意义。本研究基于1973年以来的Landsat影像、ASTER立体像对和ITS_LIVE数据产品,监测分析了帕米尔中部North Kyzkurgan冰川在跃动前、跃动中、跃动后的面积、高程、流速变化,揭示了该冰川完整的跃动发生过程。结果表明：North Kyzkurgan冰川是一条典型的跃动冰川,在1973—2011年处于恢复阶;2011—2016年处于跃动阶;2016年之后重新进入恢复阶。North Kyzkurgan冰川所在地区气候寒冷,降雪量丰富,同时该冰川积累区面积比率超过0.8,冰川作用正差近1 000 m,因此冰川补给物质充足。在积蓄区物质积累、不断增厚的情况下,冰川底部达到压力熔点,融水不断增多,在融水的润滑和顶托作用下,最终导致冰川发生跃动。因此,North Kyzkurgan冰川跃动的发生主要与热力学因素有关。     

祁连山七一冰川消融期间的能量平衡特征

冰川表面的能量平衡可以描述冰雪消融与气候响应之间的物理机制,利用2006年6月9日至9月28日在祁连山七一冰川消融区中部自动气象站(AWS)的观测资料,对七一冰川表面的能量平衡进行了估算.结果显示:在冰川消融期,净辐射、湍流热通量和冰川消融耗热是能量平衡的主要组成部分,能量收入方面主要是净辐射和感热通量,分别约占总能量收入的82.4%和17.6%;而支出方面主要是冰雪消融耗热和潜热释放,分别约占总能量支出的87.2%和12.8%.2006年7月31日至8月6日进行了为期近7 d的冰面径流场观测,基于能量平衡原理,对冰川表面的消融进行了模拟,模拟的消融速率和实测的冰面消融数据吻合的较好.     

Recently exposed vegetation reveals Holocene changes in the extent of the Quelccaya Ice Cap, Peru

Radiocarbon dating of well-preserved, in-place vegetation exposed by the retreating Quelccaya Ice Cap of southeastern Peru constrains the last time the ice cap's extent was smaller than at present. Seventeen plant samples from two sites along the central western margin collectively date to 4700 and 5100 cal yr BP and strongly indicate that current ice cap retreat is unprecedented over the past ∼ 5 millennia. Seventeen vegetation samples interbedded in a nearby clastic sedimentary sequence suggest ice-free conditions at this site from ∼ 5200 to at least ∼ 7000 cal yr BP, and place minimum constraint on early- to mid-Holocene ice cap extent.     

2000-2013年木孜塔格冰鳞川冰川粒雪线高度变化研究

以祁连山七一冰川为例, 基于Landsat TM/ETM+数据建立了通过单波段(近红外波段)阈值法提取雪线的方法, 并结合观测数据进行了验证. 将此方法应用到2000-2013年木孜塔格冰鳞川冰川粒雪线高度变化的估算中, 结合茫崖气象站暖季气温(9、7、8月份的平均气温)和6-8月降水量数据, 探索粒雪线高度与气温、降水量之间的关系. 结果表明: 单波段阈值法可较为准确地估计冰川的雪线位置, 2000-2013年冰鳞川冰川粒雪线高度呈波动变化, 在2006年达到最大值(海拔5 678 m). 气温升高是冰鳞川冰川粒雪线高度变化的主导因素, 气温上升1 ℃可导致粒雪线高度升高约83 m.