Snow algae in a shallow ice core (6.98 m long) from Yala glacier in the Langtang region of Nepal were examined for potential use as environmental markers in ice-core analysis. The ice core, taken at 5350m a.s.l. in 1994, was estimated to contain 11 annual layers from 1984 to 1994 from the profile of algal biomass. Algal biomass in each annual layer was noted to be correlated with air temperature, and the following two environmental indices which were calculated from air temperature and precipitation at Kyangjing (3920m a.s.l.), the village nearest to Yala glacier: estimated mean snow-cover thickness (MST) and estimated summer mass balance (SMB). Both parameters reflect snow-cover thickness on algal layers, which would be a major determinant of the light available for algal growth on the glacier. Snow algal biomass in the ice core appears to be a good environmental marker for indicating air temperature and accumulation during summer, which is important for understanding the mass balance of summer-accumulation-type glaciers in this region.

Snow algae in shallow ice cores (7 m long) from Yala Glacier in the Langtang region of Nepal were examined for potential use in ice-core dating. Ice-core samples taken at 5350 m a.s.l. in 1994 contained more than seven species of snow algae. In a vertical profile of the algal biomass, 11 distinct algal layers were observed. Seasonal observation in 1996 at the coring site indicated most algal growth occurred from late spring to late summer. Pit observation in 1991, 1992 and 1994 indicated that algal layer formation takes place annually. δ18O, chemical ions (Na+, Cl−, SO42− and NO3−) and microparticles failed to show any clear seasonal variation, particularly at depths exceeding 2 m, possibly due to heavy meltwater percolation. Snow algae in ice cores would thus appear to be accurate boundary markers of annual layers and should prove useful for ice-core dating in Himalayan-type glaciers.

The relations between mass balance and meltwater refreezing were examined on the basis of glaciological observations carried out in summer 1993 on Xiao Dongkemadi Glacier, Tanggula Mountains, central Tibetan Plateau. On this glacier, a part of meltwaler refreezes at the snow/ice interface as superimposed ice. The amount of superimposed ice formation was determined by both meltwater supply and temperature condition of the glacier. Snow-layer thickness on the glacier ice body is less than 2 m, even in the higher accumulation zone. About 60% of meltwaler generated in the accumulation zone for the period May–September was trapped at the snow/ice interface by refreezing, and was not discharged out of the glacier. About 26% of accumulated snow to the glacier surface was replaced on the snow/ice interface by refreezing in the accumulation zone. These facts indicate that superimposed ice formation is quite significant for water retention in glaciers under low-precipitation conditions.

Undulating topography on the East Antarctic ice sheet was clearly revealed by NOAA AVHRR. The following three patterns of undulating topography were detected by using high-pass filtered images from the visible to thermal infrared channels. In coastal regions (below 2000 m a.s.l.), undulation can be clearly detected by the fluctuation of reflectance in visible channel. It has wavy structure with spacing less than 10 km and alignment at a right angle to the ice-flow lines. In the katabatic zone (from 2000 m a.s.l. to 3000 m a.s.l) well defined fluctuations of albedo stpectrum can be seen with spacing from 10 km to 20 km, aligned at right angles to the ice-flow lines or prevailing katabatic wind direction. Ground-survey data show that the undulating topography is associated with large variations of net accumulation rate. On the inland plateau (above 3000 m a.s.l.), undulation can be clearly seen in the fluctuation of thermal infrared channel in winter. Ground-survey data show that the signal corresponds to the undulating topography. The alignment of the undulation is at a right angle to the ice-flow lines and the spacing is longer than 20 km. The characteristics of these undulations represent the ice-flow dynamics and accumulation anomaly.

In 1978, the first detailed glaciological studies were carried out on the small glacier AX010 in a glacier inventory of Dudh Kosi region, in the Nepal Himalaya. Its length, area and highest and lowest elevations in 1978 were 1.7 km, 0.57 km2, 5360 and 4950 m a.s.l., respectively. Two resurveys of its terminus position and/or surface elevations were carried out in 1989 and 1991. The glacier retreated by about 30 and 28 m during the periods 1978–89 and 1989–91, respectively.

In 1995, annual monitoring of this glacier by means of ground survey, stake method and topographical mapping began, in order to obtain its mass balance, surface flow velocity and extent, and link them with climatic conditions. The results obtained in 1995 are summarized as follows: (1) During the period 1991–95, the glacier retreated by 12 m. (2) Associated with the ice-thickness loss in the lower part of the glacier, the horizontal surface velocities along the center line in 1995 (June–October) showed a remarkable decrease on the glacier tongue, to about 50% of those in 1978.

Shrinkage of the glacier in the near future is predicted from a simple model calculation for the case that climatic conditions remain unchanged from 1995. The results show that the present shrinkage should continue and accelerate.