Changes in Glaciers and Glacial Lakes and the Identification of Dangerous Glacial Lakes in the Pumqu River Basin, Xizang (Tibet)

Tao Che,Lin Xiao,Yuei-An Liou

doi:10.1155/2014/903709

Tao Che, Lin Xiao + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/903709

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Abstract

Latest satellite images have been utilized to update the inventories of glaciers and glacial lakes in the Pumqu river basin, Xizang (Tibet), in the study. Compared to the inventories in 1970s, the areas of glaciers are reduced by 19.05% while the areas of glacial lakes are increased by 26.76%. The magnitudes of glacier retreat rate and glacial lake increase rate during the period of 2001–2013 are more significant than those for the period of the 1970s–2001. The accelerated changes in areas of the glaciers and glacial lakes, as well as the increasing temperature and rising variability of precipitation, have resulted in an increased risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in the Pumqu river basin. Integrated criteria were established to identify potentially dangerous glacial lakes based on a bibliometric analysis method. It is found, in total, 19 glacial lakes were identified as dangerous. Such finding suggests that there is an immediate need to conduct field surveys not only to validate the findings, but also to acquire information for further use in order to assure the welfare of the humans.

Highlights

A vast amount of studies has been conducted to increase our understanding on the changing cryosphere and its climate connection
A moraine breaks, releasing the lake’s stored water and discharging large volumes of water with debris, which causes downstream flooding along the river channel. This phenomenon, generally known as a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), is one of the most serious disasters to occur in the Himalayan regions of China, Nepal, India, Pakistan, and Bhutan [6,7,8,9,10]
The aims of this work are (1) to investigate the changes in glaciers and glacial lakes in the Pumqu river basin based on remote sensing data acquired in 2013 and (2) to identify potentially dangerous glacial lakes in the Pumqu river basin by integrating the latest criteria from recent reports

Summary

Introduction

A vast amount of studies has been conducted to increase our understanding on the changing cryosphere and its climate connection. Some glacial lakes are located in valleys below glaciers and are dammed by unstable moraines formed during the Little Ice Age. Occasionally, a moraine breaks, releasing the lake’s stored water and discharging large volumes of water with debris, which causes downstream flooding along the river channel. A moraine breaks, releasing the lake’s stored water and discharging large volumes of water with debris, which causes downstream flooding along the river channel This phenomenon, generally known as a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), is one of the most serious disasters to occur in the Himalayan regions of China, Nepal, India, Pakistan, and Bhutan [6,7,8,9,10]. To assess GLOFs, remote sensing techniques are cheaper and faster than traditional field investigations and have been recommended for investigating glaciers and glacial lakes [11, 12]

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