Abstract
In this study, contour lines from the topographic maps at a 1:100,000 scale (mapped in 1968), Landsat MSS/TM/OLI images, ASTER images and SPOT 6-7 stereo image pairs were used to study changes in glacier length, area and surface elevation. We summarized the results using the following three conclusions: (1) During the period from 1973 to 2013, glaciers retreated by 412 ± 32 m at a mean retraction rate of 10.3 ± 0.8 m·year−1 and the relative retreat was 5.6 ± 0.4%. The glacier area shrank by 7.5 ± 3.4%, which was larger than the glacier length. In the periods of 1968–2000, 2000–2005 and 2000–2013, the glacier surface elevation change rates were −7.7 ± 1.4 m (−0.24 ± 0.04 m·year−1), −1.9 ± 1.5 m (−0.38 ± 0.25 m·year−1) and −5.0 ± 1.4 m (−0.38 ± 0.11 m·year−1), respectively. The changes in the glacier area and thickness exhibited similar trends, both showing a significant increasing reduction after 2000. (2) Eleven glaciers were identified as surging glaciers. Changes of the mass balance in surging glaciers were stronger than in non-surging glaciers between 1968 and 2013. Changes of area in surging glaciers were weaker than in non-surging glaciers. (3) Increasing temperature was the major cause of glacier thickness reduction and area shrinkage. The increase in precipitation, to a certain extent, inhibited glacial ablation but it did not change the status of the shrinkage in the glacial area and the reduction in the glacier thickness.
Highlights
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) summarizes the changes in glacial area and mass balance in 19 regions of the world
It was demonstrated that the change rate of the global glacial area was −0.01%·year−1 to −1.8%·year−1 and the mass loss was −50 ± 7 Gt·year−1 to 0 ± 1 Gt·year−1 from 1940–2010
Results showed that the RMSEs of Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) 1 arc second in the north-eastern flank of the Tien Shan
Summary
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) summarizes the changes in glacial area and mass balance in 19 regions of the world. It was demonstrated that the change rate of the global glacial area was −0.01%·year−1 to −1.8%·year−1 and the mass loss was −50 ± 7 Gt·year−1 to 0 ± 1 Gt·year−1 from 1940–2010. Results from China’s Qilian Mountains indicate greater thinning of parts of glaciers with less area shrinkage, which raises questions about the traditional method that uses changes in glacial area to predict changes in ice reserves [2]. The study showed that in the Tuanjiefeng Peak region of the Qilian Mountains, the ice volume that was calculated using the traditional statistical method was underestimated by 17% [2]. A re-evaluation of the methods used to calculate the ice reserves is necessary, which requires exploration of the three-dimensional changes of glacier length, area, surface elevation and the volume as well as the correlations between these characteristics
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
