Glacier changes from 1966–2009 in the Gongga Mountains, on the south-eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and their climatic forcing

Pan, Baotian; Zhang, G. L.; Cao, Bo; Geng, Haopeng; Wang, Jizeng; Zhang, C.; Ji, Yun

doi:10.5194/tc-6-1087-2012

Cited by 67 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…It has been estimated that glacier retreat has been occurring in more than 82 % of the total glaciers in the region , and since the 1970s, glacier areas have reduced by several percent (about 4.8 %) in the central Tibetan Plateau (Ye et al, 2006) and up to 20 % in the northeastern marginal regions of the Tibetan Plateau (Cao et al, 2010;Pan et al, 2012). In situ stake observations have also confirmed a continuously negative mass balance during the last decade in the region (Yao et al, 2012;Zhang et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dramatic loss of glacier accumulation area on the Tibetan Plateau revealed by ice core tritium and mercury records

et al. 2015

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Abstract. Two ice cores were retrieved from high elevations ( ∼ 5800 m a.s.l.) at Mt. Nyainqêntanglha and Mt. Geladaindong in the southern and central Tibetan Plateau region. The combined tracer analysis of tritium ( 3 H), 210 Pb and mercury, along with other chemical records, provided multiple lines of evidence supporting that the two coring sites had not received net ice accumulation since at least the 1950s and 1980s, respectively. These results implied an annual ice loss rate of more than several hundred millimeter water equivalent over the past 30-60 years. Both mass balance modeling at the sites and in situ data from the nearby glaciers confirmed a continuously negative mass balance (or mass loss) in the region due to dramatic warming in recent decades. Along with a recent report on Naimona'nyi Glacier in the Himalayas, the findings suggest that the loss of accumulation area of glacier is a possibility from the southern to central Tibetan Plateau at high elevations, probably up to about 5800 m a.s.l. This mass loss raises concerns over the rapid rate of glacier ice loss and associated changes in surface glacier runoff, water availability, and sea levels.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dramatic loss of glacier accumulation area on the Tibetan Plateau revealed by ice core tritium and mercury records

et al. 2015

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“…Its front position has retreated by about 1878 m since 1930 and its surface area has decreased by 3.5% from 1966 to 2007 [33]. Strong and accelerated ice thinning has been observed in recent years (mean ice surface elevation decreased at a rate of 1.1 ± 0.4 m a −1 between 1966 and 2009) [38].…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal Variation of Drainage System in the Lower Ablation Area of a Monsoonal Temperate Debris-Covered Glacier in Mt. Gongga, South-Eastern Tibet

Liu

Cao³

2018

Water

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Seasonal evolution of the subglacial drainage system in the lower ablation area of the Hailuogou glacier ice tongue were revealed by repeated dye tracer (Rhodamine WT) experiments during the 2009 ablation season. Between April and October, 18 dye tracer experiments were conducted by injecting the tracer at one location of the lower ablation area of the Hailuogou Glacier to diagnose the seasonal variation of the subglacial drainage system of this section of glacier ice tongue. Using a simple advection-dispersion model (ADM), the flow velocity, hydrodynamic dispersion coefficient, and degree of tracer spreading were deduced. Tracer transit velocity through the tested subglacial channel varied from 0.148 to 0.555 m s −1 during the 2009 ablation season. Dispersivity showed a relatively high value than that found at other glaciers, which varied between 27.05 and 287.49 m 2 s −1 . Seasonal changes of these indexes indicated that the subglacial drainage system of the lower ablation area of the Hailougou Glacier is a relatively stable existing system in the case of its longitudinal shape, whereas its hydraulic efficiency is low in the early and late ablation seasons and high during the middle of summer due to subglacial channel expansion.

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“…The snow-line elevations on the eastern slope, ranging from 4800 to 5000 m a.s.l., are lower than those on the west, which range from 5000 to 5200 m a.s.l. These 74 glaciers have decreased in area by 11.3% (29.2 km 2 ) from 1966 to 2009 [20].…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As the highest mountain on the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, Mount Gongga is the largest area of modern glaciation in the Hengduan Mountains and one of the principal glacierized areas controlled by the monsoonal climate in the southwest of China. Owing to the distinct characteristics of this alpine region, including its diverse topography, geology, climate, and hydrology, it has hosted many scientific investigations [17][18][19][20][21]. Located on the eastern slope of Mount Gongga, Hailuogou (HLG) watershed is an ideal location for studying the distinctive hydrologic regimes of this alpine area.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tracing the Sources and Processes of Groundwater in an Alpine Glacierized Region in Southwest China: Evidence from Environmental Isotopes

Meng

Liu

Mingxi

2015

Water

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Abstract:The melting of alpine snow and glaciers is an important hydrologic process on Mount Gongga, China. The relevance of ice-snow melt to the groundwater recharge in the glacierized Hailuogou watershed is so far not well known. To better understand the origin of groundwater and the hydrological interactions between groundwater, meltwater, and precipitation in this region, 148 environmental isotopic data of water samples were analyzed for changes in isotopic composition. The results indicate that the groundwater contains a uniform isotopic signature, with δ 18O values between −13.5‰ and −11.1‰ and δ 2 H values between −90‰ and −75‰. The mean stable isotopic composition of groundwater is heavier than that of ice-snow meltwater but lighter than that of precipitation. The effect of evaporation on the isotopic variation of groundwater is very limited and the seasonal isotope variations in precipitation are attenuated in groundwater. A model based on the δ 18O results suggests that approximately 35% of the groundwater is derived from ice-snow meltwater sources. The study demonstrates that ice-snow meltwater is a substantial source of shallow groundwater in the alpine regions on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau.

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Glacier changes from 1966–2009 in the Gongga Mountains, on the south-eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and their climatic forcing

Cited by 67 publications

References 60 publications

Dramatic loss of glacier accumulation area on the Tibetan Plateau revealed by ice core tritium and mercury records

Dramatic loss of glacier accumulation area on the Tibetan Plateau revealed by ice core tritium and mercury records

Seasonal Variation of Drainage System in the Lower Ablation Area of a Monsoonal Temperate Debris-Covered Glacier in Mt. Gongga, South-Eastern Tibet

Tracing the Sources and Processes of Groundwater in an Alpine Glacierized Region in Southwest China: Evidence from Environmental Isotopes

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