A new type of ice formation zone found in the Himalayas

Abstract

Ice formation was studied on the Dasuopu Glacier located in the Mount Xixabangrna (28°23′ N, 85°43′E) in the Himalayas. Snow pits and shallow ice cores are analyzed to reveal ice formation process. The results show that the ice formation process, or in other words, the process of densitification, on the col (7 000 m a. s. I.) of the Dasuopu Glacier is a stable, slow and gradual process. The snow-ice transformation on the glacier is estimated to be 30–40 m below the surface. The temperature on the Dasuopu Glacier is very low (~ - 14°C at 10 m) and similar to that in polar type ice cap. We, therefore, speculate that the process of snow-ice transformation is undertaken under snow pressure, and that there is a percolation zone on the Dasuopu Glacier. The high altitude of the col and monsoon snow fall accompnied by heavy cloud and high albedo favorite the percolation zone formation.