|
|
|
| Climate change and its impacts on mountain glaciers during 1960-2017 in western China |
Yinge LIU1,*( ), Ninglian WANG2,3, Junhui ZHANG1, Lingang WANG1 |
1 Key Laboratory of Disaster Monitoring and Mechanism Simulating in Shaanxi Province, College of Geography and Environment, Baoji University of Arts and Science, Baoji 721013, China
2 State Key Laboratory of Cryosphere Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
3 College of Urban and Environmental Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710127, China |
|
|
|
Abstract Mountain glaciers are highly sensitive to climate change. In this paper, we systematically analyzed and discussed the responses of glaciers to climate change during 1960-2017 in western China by the methods of least squares and correlation analysis. Results show that the maximum temperature, minimum temperature, average temperature, and precipitation significantly increased in western China at the rates of 0.32°C/10a, 0.48°C/10a, 0.39°C/10a, and 11.20 mm/10a, respectively. However, the wind speed, hours of sunshine, snowfall, and snowy days displayed decreasing trends at the rates of -0.53 m/(s?10a), 3.72 h/10a, -2.90 mm/10a, and -0.10 d/10a, respectively. The annual percentage of glacier area decreased by approximately 0.42%, and the average glacier area decreased by 2.76 km2/a. Meanwhile, glacial shrinkages were greater in the Altay Mountains, Tanggula Mountains, and Qilian Mountains than in the other mountainous regions. Glacier accumulation decreased while melt volume increased at a rate of 2.7×104 m3/a. The area of melt volume was 1.3 times that of the glacier accumulation area. The glacier mass balance (GMB) decreased substantially at a rate of -14.0 mm/a, whereas the equilibrium line altitude (ELA) showed an increasing trend at a rate of 0.5 mm/a. After 1997, the mass was smaller than -500.0 mm, indicating a huge loss in glaciers. Furthermore, relationships between ELA and GMB and various climatic factors were established. Temperature and precipitation demonstrated a significantly negative correlation, whereas wind speed and snowy days had significantly positive correlations with GMB. Snowy days also exhibited a remarkably negative correlation with ELA. The strong warming trend and less snowy days were thought to be the main factors leading to glacial melting, whereas the increase in precipitation, and reductions of sunshine hours and wind speed might slow glacial melting.
|
|
Received: 05 February 2018
Published: 10 August 2019
|
| Fund: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41771048, 41571076), the National Social Science Foundation of China (15XZZ012), the Key Lab Project of Shaanxi Province of China (13JS010), the Baoji University of Arts and Science Project (ZK16061), and the Baoji University of Arts and Science Geography Key Discipline Project. |
|
Corresponding Authors:
|
| About author: The first and second authors contributed equally to this work. |
|
|
| [1] | Bai J Z, Li Z Q, Zhang M J, et al.2012. Glacier changes in Youyi Area in the Altay Mountains of Xinjiang during 1959-2008. Arid Land Geography, 35: 116-124. (in Chinese) | | [2] | Bolch T.2007. Climate change and glacier retreat in northern Tien Shan (Kazakhstan/Kyrgyzstan) using remote sensing data. Global and Planetary Change, 56(1-2): 1-12. | | [3] | Chen F, Kang S, Zhang Y, et al.2009. Glaciers and lake change in response to climate change in the Nam Co Basin, Tibet. Journal of Mountain Science, 27(6): 641-647. (in Chinese) | | [4] | Chen H, Li Z Q, Wang P Y, et al.2015. Five decades of glacier changes in the Hulugou Basin of central Qilian Mountains, Northwest China. Journal of Arid Land, 7(2): 159-165. | | [5] | Du W T, Qin X, Liu Y S, et al.2008. Variation of the Laohugou Glacier No.12 in the Qilian Mountains. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 30(3): 373-379. (in Chinese) | | [6] | Duan J P, Wang L L, Ren J W, et al.2009. Progress in glacier variations in China and its sensitivity to climatic change during the past century. Progress in Geography, 28(2): 231-237. (in Chinese) | | [7] | Duan K Q, Yao T D, Shi P H, et al.2017. Simulation and prediction of equilibrium line altitude of glaciers in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Scientia Sinica Terae, 47(1): 104-113. (in Chinese) | | [8] | Frey H, Paul F, Strozzi T.2012. Compilation of a glacier inventory for the western Himalayas from satellite data: methods, challenges, and results. Remote Sensing of Environment, 124: 832-843. | | [9] | Gao W Y, Li Z Q, Li K M, et al.2011. Glacier variation in the Kukesu River Basin during 1963-2004 based on remote sensing data and GIS techniques. Arid Land Geography, 34(2): 252-261. (in Chinese) | | [10] | Grinsted A.2013. An estimate of global glacier volume. The Cryosphere, 7: 141-151. | | [11] | Guo W, Liu S, Xu J, et al.2015. The second Chinese glacier inventory: data, methods and results. Journal of Glaciology, 61(226): 357-372. | | [12] | Jiang S, Yang T B, Tian H Z.2012. Glacier shrinkage and its dependence on climate in the Malan mountain in past 40 years based on RS and GIS. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 34(3): 522-528. (in Chinese) | | [13] | Jiang X, Wang N L, He J Q, et al.2010. A distributed surface energy and mass balance model and its application to a mountain glacier in China. Chinese Science Bulletin, 55(20): 2079-2087. (in Chinese) | | [14] | Jiao K Q, Jing Z F, Cheng P, et al.2009. Monitoring results on the Glacier No.51 at Haxilegen in the Kuytun River Basin, Tianshan Mountains. Arid Land Geography, 32(5): 733-738. (in Chinese) | | [15] | Jin R, Che T, Wu L Z.2004. Glacier variation in the Pumqu Basin derived from remote sensing data and GIS technique. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 26(3): 261-266. (in Chinese) | | [16] | Kang S C, Chen F, Ye Q H, et al.2007. Glacier retreating dramatically on the Mt. Nyainqentanglha during the last 40 years. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 29(6): 869-873. (in Chinese) | | [17] | Klok E J, Oerlemans J.2004. Climate reconstructions derived from global glacier length records. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 36(4): 575-583. | | [18] | Kononova N K, Pimankina N V, Yeriskovskaya L A, et al.2015. Effects of atmospheric circulation on summertime precipitation variability and glacier mass balance over the Tuyuksu Glacier in Tianshan Mountains, Kazakhstan. Journal of Arid Land, 7(5): 687-695. | | [19] | Kutuzov S, Shahgedanova M.2009. Glacier retreat and climatic variability in the eastern Terskey-Alatoo, inner Tien Shan between the middle of the 19th century and beginning of the 21st century. Global and Planetary Change, 69(1-2): 59-70. | | [20] | Li Z G, Yao T D, Ye Q H, et al.2011. Monitoring glacial variations based on remote sensing in the Luozha region, eastern Himalayas, 1980-2007. Geographical Research, 30(5): 939-953. (in Chinese) | | [21] | Li Z G, Yao T D, Ye Q H, et al.2012. Variations of glaciers and glacial lakes in the Luozha region, eastern Himalayas, from 1980 to 2007. Journal of Arid Land Resources and Environment, 26(7): 47-52. (in Chinese) | | [22] | Li X L, Li Z Q, Wang W B, et al.2013. Variations on equilibrium line altitude of the Glacier No.1 at the headwaters of Urumqi River, during 1959-2009. Journal of Arid Land Resources and Environment, 27(2): 83-88. (in Chinese) | | [23] | Li K M, Li Z Q, Wang C Y, et al.2016. Shrinkage of Mt. Bogda Glaciers of Eastern Tian Shan in Central Asia during 1962-2006. Journal of Earth Science, 27(1): 139-150. | | [24] | Liu SY, DingY J, Wang N L, et al.1998. Mass balance sensitivity to climate change of the Glacier No.1 at the Urumqi River head, Tianshan Mts. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 20(1): 9-13. (in Chinese) | | [25] | Liu S Y, Ding Y J, Li J.2006. Glaciers in response to recent climate warming in western China. Quaternary Sciences, 26(5): 762-771. (in Chinese) | | [26] | Liu S Y, Yao X J, Guo W Q, et al.2015. The contemporary glaciers in China based on the second Chinese glacier inventory. Acta Geographica Sinica, 70(1): 3-16. (in Chinese) | | [27] | Liu Y G, Wang N L, Wang L G, et al.2016. Variation of cloud amount over China and the relationship with ENSO from 1951 to 2014. International Journal of Climatology, 36(8): 2931-2941. | | [28] | Lu A X, Yao T D, Wang L H, et al.2005. Study on the fluctuations of typical glaciers and lakes in the Tibetan Plateau using remote sensing. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 27(6): 783-792. (in Chinese) | | [29] | Manton M J, Peace A D, Kemsley K, et al.2017. Further analysis of a snowfall enhancement project in the snowy mountains of Australia. Atmospheric Research, 193: 192-203. | | [30] | Mölg 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. | | [31] | Nie Y, Zhang Y L, Liu L S, et al.2010. Glacial change in the vicinity of Mt. Qomolangma (Everest), central high Himalayas since 1976. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 20(5): 667-686. (in Chinese) | | [32] | Klok E J, Oerlemans J.2004. Climate reconstructions derived from global glacier length records. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 36(4): 575-583. | | [33] | Palerme C, Claud C, Dufour A, et al.2017. Evaluation of Antarctic snowfall in global meteorological reanalyses. Atmospheric Research, 190: 104-112. | | [34] | Pederson G T, Fagre D B, Gray S T, et al.2004. Decadal scale climate drivers for glacial dynamics in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA. Geophysical Research Letters, 31(12): L12203. | | [35] | Pu J C, Yao T D, Duan K Q, et al.2005. Mass Balance of the Qiyi Glacier in the Qilian Mountains: A new observation. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 27(2): 199-204. (in Chinese) | | [36] | Qin D H.1999. Map of Glacier Resources in the Himalayas. Beijing: Science Press, 45-57. (in Chinese) | | [37] | Qin D H, Ding Y J.2009. Cryospheric changes and their impacts: Present, trends and key issues. Advances in Climate Change Research, 5(4): 187-195. (in Chinese) | | [38] | Radić V, Hock R.2010. Regional and global volumes of glaciers derived from statistical upscaling of glacier inventory data. Journal of Geophysical Research, 115(F1): F01010. | | [39] | Shangguan D H, Liu S Y, Ding Y J, et al.2004. Glacier changes at the head of Yurungkax River in the west Kunlun Mountains in the past 32 years. Acta Geographica Sinica, 59: 855-862. (in Chinese) | | [40] | Shangguan D H, Liu S Y, Ding L F, et al.2008. Variation of glaciers in the western Nyainqntanglha range of Tibetan Plateau during 1970-2000. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 30: 204-210. (in Chinese) | | [41] | Shi Y F.2005. Concise Glacier Inventory of China. Shanghai:Shanghai Popular Science Press, 65-78. (in Chinese) | | [42] | Shi Y F.2008. Glaciers and Related Environments in China. Beijing：Science Press, 42-51. (in Chinese) | | [43] | Shi Y F, Liu C H, Kang E.2010. The glacier inventory of China. Annals of Glaciology, 50(53): 1-4. | | [44] | Sun Z Z, Xie Z C.1981. Variation of glacier and forecast of its tendency on No.12 Glacier in Laohu valley over the Qilian Mountain. Chinese Science Bulletin, 26(6): 366-369. | | [45] | Tan M L, Ibrahim A L, Yusop Z, et al.2017. Climate change impacts under CMIP5 RCP scenarios on water resources of the Kelantan River Basin, Malaysia. Atmospheric Research, 189: 1-10. | | [46] | Wang P Y, Li Z Q, Cao M, et al.2010. Variation of Qingbingtan glacier No.72 in Mt. Tuomuer region during past 45 years. Scientia Geographica Sinica, 30(6): 962-967. (in Chinese) | | [47] | Wang P Y, Li Z Q, Li H L, et al.2012. Changes of ice-thickness and volume for representative glaciers in Tianshan Mountains in the past 50 years. Acta Geographica Sinica, 67(7): 929-940. (in Chinese) | | [48] | Wang P Y, Li Z Q, Huai B J, et al.2015. Spatial variability of glacial changes and their effects on water resources in the Chinese Tianshan Mountains during the last five decades. Journal of Arid Land, 7(6): 717-727. | | [49] | Wang S H, Xie Z C, Dai Y N, et al.2011. Structure, change and its tendency of glacier systems in Altay Mountains. Arid Land Geography, 34(1): 115-123. (in Chinese) | | [50] | Wang S J, Zhang M J, Li Z Q, et al.2011a. Response of glacier area variation to climate change in Chinese Tianshan Mountains in the past 50 years. Acta Geographica Sinica, 66(1): 38-46. (in Chinese) | | [51] | Wang S J, Zhang M J, Li Z Q, et al.2011b .Glacier area variation and climate change in the Chinese Tianshan Mountains since 1960. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 21(2): 263-273. (in Chinese) | | [52] | Wang X, Xie Z C, Li Q Y, et al.2008. Sensitivity analysis of glacier systems to climate warming in China. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 18: 190-200. | | [53] | Wang Y, Wu L Z, Xu J L, et al.2013. Variation and uncertainty analysis of the glaciers in the past 50 years in Geladangdong of Tibetan Plateau. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 35: 255-262. (in Chinese) | | [54] | Wang Z T.1991. A discussion on the questions of development of Heigou Glacier No.8, Bogda-peak region. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 13(2): 141-158. (in Chinese) | | [55] | Wei J F, Liu S Y, Xu J L, et al.2015. Mass loss from glaciers in the Chinese Altai Mountains between 1959 and 2008 revealed based on historical maps, SRTM, and ASTER images. Journal of Mountain Science, 12(2): 330-343. | | [56] | Wu G H, Zhang S Y, Wang Z X.1983. Retreat and advance of modern glaciers in Bogda, Tianshan. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 5(3): 143-152. (in Chinese) | | [57] | Wu H, Zhu L P, Ye Q H, et al.2007. The response of lake-glacier area change to climate variations in Namco Basin, central Tibetan Plateau, during the last three decades. Acta Geographica Sinica, 62: 301-311. (in Chinese) | | [58] | Wu L H, Li Z Q, Wang P Y, et al.2011. Sounding the Sigong River Glacier No. 4 in Mt. Bogda area, the Tianshan Mountains by using ground penetrating radar and estimating the ice volume. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 33(2): 276-282. (in Chinese) | | [59] | Wu L Z, Li X.2004. China Glacier Information System. Beijing：China Ocean Press, 23-78. (in Chinese) | | [60] | Xie C W, Ding Y J, Liu S Y, et al.2006. Variation of Keqikaer Glacier terminus in Tomor Peak during last 30 years. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 28(5): 672-677. (in Chinese) | | [61] | Xu AW, Yang T B, Wang C Q, et al.2016. Variation of glaciers in the Shaksgam River Basin, Karakoram Mountains during 1978-2015. Progress in Geography, 35(7): 878-888. (in Chinese) | | [62] | Yan D H, Li Z Q, Gao W Y, et al.2012. RS-based monitoring of glacier change in the Beidahe River Basin in the Qilian Mountains. Arid Zone Research, 29(2): 245-250. (in Chinese) | | [63] | Yang H A, Li Z Q, Ye B S, et al.2005. Study on mass balance and process of glacier No.1 at the headwaters of the Urumqi River in the past 44 years. Arid Land Geography, 28(1): 76-80. (in Chinese) | | [64] | Yang Y, Chen R S, Ji X B.2007. Variations of glaciers in the Yeniugou watershed of Heihe River basin from 1956 to 2003. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryolog, 29(1): 100-106. (in Chinese) | | [65] | Yao T D, Wang Y Q, Liu S Y, et al.2004. Recent glacial retreat in High Asia in China and its impact on water resource in Northwest China. Science in China: Series D, 47(12): 1065-1075. | | [66] | Yao X J, Liu S Y, Guo W Q, et al.2012. Glacier change of Altay Mountains in China from 1960 to 2009—Based on the second glacier inventory of China. Journal of Natural Resources, 27(10): 1734-1745. (in Chinese) | | [67] | Yao Y H, Li G, Zhang B P.2009. Glacier changes in the past 30 years at the east watershed of Mt. Tomor. Arid Land Geography, 32(6): 828-833. (in Chinese) | | [68] | Ye B S, Ding Y J, Liu C H.2001. Response of valley glaciers in various size and their runoff to climate change. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 23(2): 103-110. (in Chinese) | | [69] | Ye Q H, Kand S C, Chen F, et al.2006. Monitoring glacier variations on Geladandong mountain, central Tibetan Plateau, from 1969 to 2002 using remote-sensing and GIS technologies. Journal of Glaciology, 52(179): 537-545. | | [70] | Ye Q H, Chen F, Yao T D.2007. Tupu of glacier variations in the Mt. Naimona'Nyi region, western Himalayas, in the last three decades. Journal of Remote Sensing, 11(4): 511-520. (in Chinese) | | [71] | Zhang D Q, Xiao C D, Qin D H.2009. Himalayan glaciers fluctuation over the latest decades and its impact on water resources. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 31(5): 885-895. (in Chinese) | | [72] | Zhang H W, Liu A X, Wang L H, et al.2010. Giacier change in the Lenglongling Mountain monitored by remote sensing. Remote Sensing Technology and Application, 25: 682-686. (in Chinese) | | [73] | Zhang H W, Lu A X, Wang L H, et al.2011. Glacier change in the Shulenan Mountain monitored by remote sensing. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 33(1): 8-13. (in Chinese) | | [74] | Zhang M J, Wang S J, Li Z Q.2011. Variation of glacier area in China against the warming in the past 50 years. Acta Geographica Sinica, 66(9): 1155-1165. (in Chinese) | | [75] | Zhang M J, Qin X, Du W T, et al.2013. Glacier change in the Laohugou river basin monitored by remote sensing from 1957 to 2009. Journal of Arid Land Resources and Environment, 27(4): 70-75. (in Chinese) | | [76] | Zhang S P, Zhang H C, Chen G J, et al.2012. Climate and glacier changes and lake response in the Ngangla Ringsto Catchment in western Tibetan Plateau. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 34(2): 267-276. (in Chinese) | | [77] | Zhang Y, Gao Z, Pan Z, et al.2017. Spatiotemporal variability of extreme temperature frequency and amplitude in China. Atmospheric Research, 185: 131-141. | | [78] | Zhao C Y, Fang Y H, Luo Y, et al.2016. Interdecadal component variation characteristics in heavy winter snow intensity in North-Eastern China and its response to sea surface temperatures. Atmospheric Research, 180: 165-177. | | [79] | Zhu M L, Yao T D, Yang W, et al.2014. Ice volume and characteristics of sub-glacial topography of the Zhadang Glacier, Nyainqêntanglha Range. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 36(2): 268-277. (in Chinese) | | [80] | Zhu C D, Lu Y, Shi H L, et al.2017. Spatial and temporal patterns of the inter-annual oscillations of glacier mass over Central Asia inferred from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) data. Journal of Arid Land, 9(1): 87-97. |
|
|
Viewed |
|
|
|
Full text
|
|
|
|
|
Abstract
|
|
|
|
|
Cited |
|
|
|
|
| |
Shared |
|
|
|
|
| |
Discussed |
|
|
|
|
