Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-xtgtn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-16T11:55:38.843Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Changes in glacier extent and surface elevations in the Depuchangdake region of northwestern Tibet, China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Zhiguo Li ,
Lide Tian ,
Hongbo Wu ,
Weicai Wang ,
Shuhong Zhang ,
Jingjing Zhang  and
Xuexin Li
Zhiguo Li*
Affiliation:
Department of Environment and Planning, Shangqiu Normal University, Shangqiu, China Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Lide Tian
Affiliation:
Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Hongbo Wu
Affiliation:
School of History and Tourism, Shaanxi University of Technology, Shaanxi Hanzhong 723000, China
Weicai Wang
Affiliation:
Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Shuhong Zhang
Affiliation:
Department of Life Science, Shangqiu Normal University, Shangqiu, China
Jingjing Zhang
Affiliation:
Department of Environment and Planning, Shangqiu Normal University, Shangqiu, China
Xuexin Li
Affiliation:
Department of Environment and Planning, Shangqiu Normal University, Shangqiu, China
*
⁎Corresponding author at: Department of Environment and Planning, Shangqiu Normal University, Shangqiu, China. E-mail address:lizhiguo999999@163.com (Z. Li).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Remote sensing data, including those from Landsat Thematic Mapper/Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (TM/ETM +), the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission Digital Elevation Model (SRTM4.1 DEM), and the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite (Glas/ICESat), show that from 1991 to 2013 the glacier area in the Depuchangdake region of northwestern Tibet decreased from 409 to 393 km2, an overall loss of 16 km2, or 3.9% of the entire 1991 glacial area. The mean glacier-thinning rate was − 0.40 ± 0.16 m equivalent height of water per year (w.e./yr), equating to a glacier mass balance of − 0.16 ± 0.07 km3 w.e./yr. Total mass loss from 2003 to 2009 was − 1.13 ± 0.46 km3. Glacier retreat likely reflects increases in annual total radiation, annual positive degree days, and maximum temperature, with concurrent increases in precipitation insufficient to replenish glacial mass loss. The rate of glacier retreat in Depuchangdake is less than that for Himalayan glaciers in Indian monsoon-dominated areas, but greater than that for Karakoram glaciers in mid-latitude westerly-dominated areas. Glacier type, climate zone, and climate change all impact on the differing degrees of long-term regional glacial change rate; however, special glacier distribution forms can sometimes lead to exceptional circumstances.

Keywords

Glacier variationsRemote sensingTransition zoneDepuchangdake region
Type
Original Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 85 , Issue 1 , January 2016 , pp. 25 - 33
Copyright
University of Washington

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bajracharya, S.R. Maharjan, S.B. Shrestha, F. Guo, W. Liu, S.Y., Immerzeel, W., Shrestha, B.(2015). The glaciers of the Hindu Kush Himalayas: current status and observed changes from the 1980s to 2010. International Journal of Water Resources Development 31, 161–173.Google Scholar
Bolch, T., Kulkarni, A., K""b, A., Huggel, C., Paul, F., Cogley, J.G., Frey, H., Kargel, J.S., Fujita, K., Scheel, M., Bajracharya, S., Stoffel, M.(2012). The state and fate of Himalayan glaciers. Science 336, 310–314.Google Scholar
Brahmbhatt, R.M., Bahuguna, I.M., Rathore, B.P., Singh, S.K., Rajawat, A.S., Shah, R.D., Kargel, J.S.(2015). Satellite monitoring of glaciers in the Karakoram from 1977 to 2013: an overall almost stable population of dynamic glaciers. The Cryosphere Discussions 9, 1555–1592.Google Scholar
Cao, B., Pan, B.T., Wang, J., Shangguan, D.H., Wen, Z.L., Qi, W.T., Cui, H., Lu, Y.Y.(2014). Changes in the glacier extent and surface elevation along the Ningchan and Shuiguan river source, eastern Qilian Mountains, China. Quaternary Research 81, 531–537.Google Scholar
Chen, F., Yu, Z., Yang, M., Ito, E., Wang, S., Madsen, D.B., Huang, X., Zhao, Y., Sato, T., John, B., Birks, H., Boomer, I., Chen, J., An, C., W"nnemann, B.(2008). Holocene moisture evolution in arid central Asia and its out-of-phase relationship with Asian monsoon history. Quaternary Science Reviews 27, 351–364.Google Scholar
Gardelle, J., Berthier, E., Arnaud, Y., K""b, A.(2013). Region-wide glacier mass balances over the Pamir-Karakoram-Himalaya during 1999"2011. The Cryosphere 7, 1263–1286.Google Scholar
Gardner, A.S., Moholdt, G., Cogley, J.G., Wouters, B., Arendt, A.A., Wahr, J., Berthier, E., Hock, R., Pfeffer, W.T., Kaser, G., Ligtenberg, S.R.M., Bolch, T., Sharp, M.J., Hagen, J.O., van den Broeke, M.R., Paul, F.(2013). A reconciled estimate of glacier contributions to sea level rise: 2003 to 2009. Science 340, 852–857.Google Scholar
Ghosh, S., Pandey, A.C., Nathawat, M.S., Bahuguna, I.M., Ajai, (2014). Contrasting signals of glacier changes in Zanskar Valley, Jammu & Kashmir, India using remote sensing and GIS. Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing 42, 817–827.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hewitt, K. (2005). The Karakoram Anomaly? Glacier expansion and the "elevation effect", Karakoram Himalaya. Mountain Research and Development 25, 332–340.Google Scholar
Immerzeel, W.W., van Beek, L.P.H., Bierkens, M.F.P.(2010). Climate change will affect the Asian water towers. Science 328, 1382–1385.Google Scholar
K""b, A., Berthier, E., Nuth, C., Gardelle, J., Arnaud, Y.(2012). Contrasting patterns of early twenty-first-century glacier mass change in the Himalayas. Nature 488, 495–498.Google Scholar
Li, Z.G., Yao, T.D., Ye, Q.H., Tian, L.D., Li, C.C.(2011). Monitoring glacier variations based on remote sensing in the Luozha Region, Eastern Himalayas, 1980"2007. Geographical Research 26, 836–846.(in Chinese with English abstract)Google Scholar
Li, C.X., Yang, T.B., Tian, H.Z.(2013). Variation of West Kunlun Mountains glacier during 1990"2011. Progress in Physical Geography 32, 548–559.(in Chinese with English abstract)Google Scholar
Li, Z.G., Fang, H.Y., Tian, L.D., Dai, Y.F., Zong, J.B.(2015a). Changes in the glacier extent and surface elevation in Xiongcaigangri region, Southern Karakoram Mountains, China. Quaternary International 371, 67–75.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Li, Z.G., Tian, L.D., Fang, H.Y., Zhang, S.H., Zhang, J.J., Li, X.X.(2015b). Changes in glacier extent and surface elevations in the Ayilariju region, Western Himalayas, China. Environmental Earth Sciences(in press)Google Scholar
Ligtenberg, S.R.M., Helsen, M.M., van den Broeke, M.R.(2011). An improved semi-empirical model for the densification of Antarctic firn. The Cryosphere 5, 809–819.Google Scholar
Mir, R.A., Jainb, S.K., Sarafa, A.K., Goswamic, A.(2014). Glacier changes using satellite data and effect of climate in Tirungkhad basin located in western Himalaya. Geocarto International 29, 293–313.Google Scholar
M"lg, T., Maussion, F., Scherer, D.(2014). Mid-latitude westerlies as a driver of glacier variability in monsoonal High Asia. Nature Climate Change 4, 68–73.Google Scholar
Neckel, N., Krop"?ek, J., Bolch, T., Hochschild, V.(2014). Glacier mass changes on the Tibetan Plateau 2003"2009 derived from ICESat laser altimetry measurements. Environmental Research Letters 9, 014009 Google Scholar
Piao, S., Ciais, P., Huang, Y., Shen, Z.H., Peng, S.S., Li, J.S., Zhou, L.P., Liu, H.Y., Ma, Y.C., Ding, Y.H., Friedlingstein, P., Liu, C.Z., Tan, K., Yu, Y.Q., Zhang, T.Y., Fang, J.Y.(2010). The impacts of climate change on water resources and agriculture in China. Nature 467, 43–51.Google Scholar
Qiu, J. (2010). Measuring the meltdown. Nature 468, 141–142.Google Scholar
Raup, B.H., K""b, A., Kargel, J.S., Bishop, M.P., Hamilton, G., Lee, E., Paul, F., Rau, F., Soltesz, D., Khalsa, S.J.S., Beedle, M., Helm, C.(2007). Remote sensing and GIS technology in the Global Land Ice Measurements from Space Project. Computers & Geosciences 33, 104–125.Google Scholar
Reuter, H.I., Nelson, A., Jarvis, A.(2007). An evaluation of void filling interpolation methods for SRTM data. International Journal of Geographical Information Science 21, 983–1008.Google Scholar
Shi, Y.F. (2008). Concise Glacier Inventory of China. Shanghai Popular Science Press, Shanghai.Google Scholar
Wang, L., Li, Z.Q., Wang, F.T., Edwards, R.(2014). Glacier shrinkage in the Ebinur lake basin, Tien Shan, China, during the past 40 years. Journal of Glaciology 60, 245–254.Google Scholar
Wang, W.C., Xiang, Y., Gao, Y., Lu, A.X., Yao, T.D.(2015a). Rapid expansion of glacial lakes caused by climate and glacier retreat in the Central Himalayas. Hydrological Processes 29, 859–874.Google Scholar
Wang, N.L., Wu, H.B., Wu, Y.W., Chen, A.A.(2015b). Variations of the glacier mass balance and lake water storage in the Tarim Basin, northwest China, over the period of 2003"2009 estimated by the ICESat-GLAS data. Environmental Earth Sciences 74, 1997–2008.Google Scholar
Wiltshire, A.J. Climate change implications for the glaciers of the Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Himalayan region. The Cryosphere 8, 941–958.Google Scholar
Wu, H.B., Wang, N.L., Jiang, X., Guo, Z.M.(2014). Variations in water level and glacier mass balance in Nam Co lake, Nyainqentanglha range, Tibetan Plateau, based on ICESat data for 2003"09. Annals of Glaciology 55, 239–247.Google Scholar
Yang, K., Wu, H., Qin, J., Lin, C.G., Tang, W.J., Chen, Y.Y.(2014). Recent climate changes over the Tibetan Plateau and their impacts on energy and water cycle: a review. Global and Planetary Change 112, 79–91.Google Scholar
Yao, T.D. (2008). Map of Glaciers and Lakes on the Tibetan Plateau and the Surroundings. Xi'an Cartographic Publishing House, Google Scholar
Yao, T.D. (2010). Glacial fluctuations and its impacts on lakes in the southern Tibetan Plateau. Chinese Science Bulletin 55, 2071 Google Scholar
Yao, T.D., Thompson, L., Yang, W., Yu, W.Y., Gao, Y., Guo, X.J., Yang, X.X., Duan, K.Q., Zhao, H.B., Xu, B.Q., Pu, J.C., Lu, A.X., Xiang, Y., Kattel, D.B., Joswiak, D.(2012). Different glacier status with atmospheric circulations in Tibetan Plateau and surroundings. Nature Climate Change 2, 663–667.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ye, Q.H., Kang, S.C., Chen, F., Wang, J.H.(2006). Monitoring glacier variations on Geladandong mountain, central Tibetan Plateau, from 1969 to 2002 using remote-sensing and GIS technologies. Journal of Glaciology 52, 537–545.Google Scholar
Ye, Q.H., Yao, T.D., Naruse, R.(2008). Glacier and lake variations in the Mapam Yumco basin, western Himalayas of the Tibetan Plateau, from 1974 to 2003 using remote sensing and GIS technologies. Journal of Glaciology 54, 933–935.Google Scholar
Zhang, Y.S., Yao, T.D., Pu, J.C.(1996). The characteristics of ablation on continental type glaciers in China. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology 18, 147–154.(in Chinese with English abstract)Google Scholar
Supplementary material: PDF

Li et al. supplementary material

Table S1-S5

Download Li et al. supplementary material(PDF)
PDF 31.6 KB