Dynamic change of a typical surging glacier in the Qinghai tibet plateau based on satellite remote sensing

Abstract

With global climate change, some mountain glaciers in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau region are experiencing rapid melting, retreating, and acceleration. Surge-type glaciers are important objects for glacier dynamics research in this region, as sudden surge may threaten human activities and lives. This study focuses on the Shahrek Glacier. Based on multi-source remote sensing images from 2000 to 2023, we generated long-term ice flow velocity maps of the glacier using image template matching technology. Together with its terminus position over this period, the surge dynamics of Shahrek Glacier were analyzed. The glacier surge commenced in September 2016 and terminated in November 2018, reaching a maximum ice velocity of almost 1,200 m/a, which is 9–10 times its ice velocity in the quiescent phase. A substantial change in the magnitude of the ice flow before and after the onset of the Shahrek Glacier surge was observed; the surge comprised five main phases: pre-surge stable, accelerated, surge, decelerated, and stabilized periods. The Shahrek Glacier was retreating from the position of the glacier-terminal ablation zone prior to the onset of leapfrogging. We analyzed the relationship between Shahrek Glacier dynamics and climate and the surge mechanism surge, considering data from meteorological stations in neighboring regions.