Geomorphology of anomalously high glaciated mountains at the northwestern end of Tibet: Muztag Ata and Kongur Shan

Seong, Yeong Bae; Owen, Lewis A.; Yi, Chaolu; Finkel, Robert C.; Schoenbohm, Lindsay M.

doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2008.04.025

Cited by 67 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…The two maxima in altitude frequencies at 3,600-4,100 m and 4,400-4,800 m a.s.l. are associated with the glacial erosion of two major Late Pleistocene glaciations at Muztagh Ata and Kongur Shan (Seong et al, 2009b). The lower maximum corresponds to the indicated local base level of the Pamir Plateau.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Tectonic and climatic forcing on the Panj river system during the Quaternary

Fuchs

Gloaguen

Pohl

2013

Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch)

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Surface processes involve complex feedback effects between tectonic and climatic influences in the high mountains of Pamir. The ongoing India-Asia collision provokes the development of east-west-trending mountain ranges that impose structural control on flow directions of the Pamir rivers. The evolving relief is further controlled by strong moisture gradients. The decreasing precipitations from the southern and western margins of the Pamir Plateau to its center, in their turn, control the emplacement of glaciers. Chronologies of glacial records from the Pamir Plateau attest for strong climatic variability during the Quaternary. Corresponding remnants of glacial advances suggest glacial morphodynamic restricted to >4,000 m a.s.l. since marine isotope stage (MIS) 4. The Panj, the trunk river of Pamir, deflects from the predominant westward drainage, connecting its main tributaries at the western margin of the drainage basin. The geometry of the river network and the pattern of incision characterize the Panj as a composite river. River reaches of indicated low incision coincide with west-trending valleys, parallel to domes and their bounding faults. Valley shape ratios reflect increased incision in north-trending sections, but do not match with changes in the catchment geometry or erodibility of rock types. Modelled riverbed profiles distinguish three Panj reaches. The upstream increase in convexity suggests successive river captures in response to local base-level changes. The northward-deflected river reaches link the local base levels, which coincide with the southern boundaries of the Shakhdara and Yazgulom Dome and Darvaz Range. We argue that tectonics plays a large role controlling the drainage system of the Panj and hence surface processes in the Pamir mountains.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Tectonic and climatic forcing on the Panj river system during the Quaternary

Fuchs

Gloaguen

Pohl

2013

Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch)

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“…With a length of ∼ 18 km and an extent of 86.5 km 2 the debris-covered Kekesayi Glacier is by far the largest glacier of this massif (Shangguan et al, 2006;Seong et al, 2009b, a;Yang et al, 2013). Muztagh Ata is situated in one of the driest glacierized areas of China and one of the coldest environments in these low-and mid-latitude regions (Shangguan et al, 2006;Zhou et al, 2014).…”

Section: N Holzer Et Al: Muztagh Ata Glacier Variations 2073mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…of anomalously high topography reaches ∼ 1500 m higher than most neighbouring peaks in the eastern Pamir (Seong et al, 2009b;Yang et al, 2013). Its glaciers are seasonal to long-term water resources and play an important regulating role for downstream freshwater supply.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Four decades of glacier variations at Muztagh Ata (eastern Pamir): a multi-sensor study including Hexagon KH-9 and Pléiades data

Holzer¹,

Vijay²,

Yao³

et al. 2015

The Cryosphere

114

104

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Abstract. Previous in situ measurements have indicated a slight mass gain at Muztagh Ata in the eastern Pamir, contrary to the global trend. We extend these measurements both in space and time by using remote sensing data and present four decades of glacier variations in the entire mountain massif. Geodetic mass balances and area changes were determined at glacier scale from stereo satellite imagery and derived digital elevation models (DEMs). This includes Hexagon KH-9 (year 1973), ALOS-PRISM (2009), Pléiades (2013 and Landsat 7 ETM+ data in conjunction with the SRTM-3 DEM (2000). In addition, surface velocities of Kekesayi Glacier, the largest glacier at Muztagh Ata, were derived from amplitude tracking of TerraSAR-X images (2011). Locally, we observed strong spatial and temporal glacier variations during the last four decades, which were, however, on average not significant for the entire massif. Some south-west-exposed glaciers fluctuated or advanced, while glaciers with other aspects rather experienced continuous shrinkage. Several glaciers such as Kekesayi indicate no measurable change at their frontal position, but clear down-wasting despite mostly thick debris coverage at low altitudes. The surface velocity of this debriscovered glacier reach up to 20 cm per day, but the lowest part of the tongue appears to be stagnant. The low velocity or even stagnancy at the tongue is likely one reason for the down-wasting. On average, the glaciers showed a small, insignificant shrinkage from 274.3 ± 10.

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“…They highlighted the considerable regional variation, which is the result of the influence of the two major climatic systems, the mid-latitude westerlies and the South Asian summer monsoon, plus the influence of strong topographic controls. Furthermore, there may be considerable local variability as highlighted by Sharma and Owen (1996) for the Garhwal Himalaya and Seong et al, (2008b) for Muztag Ata and Kongur Shan. Owen and Benn (2005) argue that even though there have been numerous studies of ELAs throughout the HimalayanTibetan orogen, the methods for reconstructing former ELAs vary considerably between studies.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Quaternary glaciation of the Himalayan–Tibetan orogen

Owen

Caffee

Finkel

et al. 2008

J Quaternary Science

Self Cite

212

143

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Glacial geological evidence from throughout the Himalayan-Tibetan orogen is examined to determine the timing and extent of late Quaternary glaciation in this region and its relation to similar changes on a global scale. The evidence summarised here supports the existence of expanded ice caps and extensive valley glacier systems throughout the region during the late Quaternary. However, it cannot yet be determined whether the timing of the extent of maximum glaciation was synchronous throughout the entire region or whether the response was more varied. The lack of organic material needed for radiocarbon dating has hindered past progress in glacial reconstruction; however, application of optically stimulated luminescence and terrestrial cosmogenic radionuclide methods has recently expanded the number of chronologies throughout the region. Limits to the precision and accuracy available with these methods and, more importantly, geological uncertainty imposed by processes of moraine formation and alteration both conspire to limit the time resolution on which correlations can be made to Milankovitch timescales (several ka). In order to put all studies on a common scale, well-dated sites have been re-evaluated and all the published terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide ages for moraine boulders and glacially eroded surfaces in the Himalayan-Tibetan orogen have been recalculated. Locally detailed studies indicate that there are considerable variations in the extent of glaciation from one region to the next during a glaciation. Glaciers throughout monsoon-influenced Tibet, the Himalaya and the Transhimalaya are likely synchronous both with climate change resulting from oscillations in the South Asian monsoon and with Northern Hemisphere cooling cycles. In contrast, glaciers in Pamir in the far western regions of the Himalayan-Tibet orogen advanced asynchronously relative to the other regions that are monsooninfluenced regions and appear to be mainly in phase with the Northern Hemisphere cooling cycles. Broad patterns of local and regional variability based on equilibrium-line altitudes have yet to be fully assessed, but have the potential to help define changes in climatic gradients over time.

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Geomorphology of anomalously high glaciated mountains at the northwestern end of Tibet: Muztag Ata and Kongur Shan

Cited by 67 publications

References 63 publications

Tectonic and climatic forcing on the Panj river system during the Quaternary

Tectonic and climatic forcing on the Panj river system during the Quaternary

Four decades of glacier variations at Muztagh Ata (eastern Pamir): a multi-sensor study including Hexagon KH-9 and Pléiades data

Quaternary glaciation of the Himalayan–Tibetan orogen

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