The active-layer ice temperature increases more obviously on a cold glacier than a temperate glacier during the past 30 years

Abstract

On the basis of the historical documents and measured active-layer ice temperatures (ALITs) on Baishui Glacier No. 1 (BG1), Yulong Snow Mountains, Southeastern Tibetan Plateau and Urumqi Glacier No. 1 (UG1), the eastern Tien Shan Mountains, Central Asia, this paper revealed and compared their inter-decadal response of the ALIT in the past 30 years. The results showed that the daily mean ALIT increased by 0.24°C at the range of 0.50~9.80 m on BG1 (4,670 m a.s.l.) from July 11, 1982 to July 10, 2009. The rapid increase of the ALIT is found similarly on UG1 (3,840 m a.s.l.), and its increase magnitude for the last 21 years from 1986 to 2006 is nearly 0.83° at 1~20 m depth, obviously higher than BG1 during the period 1982~2009. Empirical experiments also proved that the ALIT is higher on a temperate glacier than a cold (continental) glacier and a temperate glacier retreated faster evidently than a cold glacier, but the ALIT increases more significantly on a cold glacier than a temperate glacier with regional climatic warming.