Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions ›› 2017, Vol. 9 ›› Issue (6): 543–553.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1226.2017.00543

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The mass-balance characteristics and sensitivities to climate variables of Laohugou Glacier No. 12, western Qilian Mountains, China

JiZu Chen1,2, ShiChang Kang1,3, Xiang Qin1, WenTao Du1,2, WeiJun Sun4, YuShuo Liu1   

  1. 1. Qilian Shan Station of Glaciology and Ecological Environment, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China;
    2. University of CAS, Beijing 100049, China;
    3. CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100085, China;
    4. College of Population, Resources and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong 250014, China
  • 收稿日期:2017-07-12 出版日期:2017-12-01 发布日期:2018-11-23
  • 通讯作者: Xiang Qin, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences. No. 320, West Donggang Road, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China. Tel: +86-931-4967370;E-mail:qinxiang@lzb.ac.cn E-mail:qinxiang@lzb.ac.cn
  • 基金资助:
    The work was supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KJZD-EW-G03-04) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41721091, 41671071), and Open Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering (No. 2017490711). Many thanks are also extended to colleagues working at the Qilian Station of Glaciology and Ecological Environment.

The mass-balance characteristics and sensitivities to climate variables of Laohugou Glacier No. 12, western Qilian Mountains, China

JiZu Chen1,2, ShiChang Kang1,3, Xiang Qin1, WenTao Du1,2, WeiJun Sun4, YuShuo Liu1   

  1. 1. Qilian Shan Station of Glaciology and Ecological Environment, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China;
    2. University of CAS, Beijing 100049, China;
    3. CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100085, China;
    4. College of Population, Resources and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong 250014, China
  • Received:2017-07-12 Online:2017-12-01 Published:2018-11-23
  • Contact: Xiang Qin, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences. No. 320, West Donggang Road, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China. Tel: +86-931-4967370;E-mail:qinxiang@lzb.ac.cn E-mail:qinxiang@lzb.ac.cn
  • Supported by:
    The work was supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KJZD-EW-G03-04) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41721091, 41671071), and Open Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering (No. 2017490711). Many thanks are also extended to colleagues working at the Qilian Station of Glaciology and Ecological Environment.

摘要: Due to global warming, glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) are experiencing widespread shrinkage; however, the mechanisms controlling glacier variations across the TP are still rather unclear, especially on the northeastern TP. In this study, a physically based, distributed surface-energy and mass-balance model was used to simulate glacier mass balance forced by meteorological data. The model was applied to Laohugou No. 12 Glacier, western Qilian Mountains, China, during 2010~2012. The simulated albedo and mass balance were validated and calibrated by in situ measurements. The simulated annual glacier-wide mass balances were -385 mm water equivalent (w.e.) in 2010/2011 and -232 mm w.e. in 2011/2012, respectively. The mean equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) was 5,015 m a.s.l., during 2010~2012, which ascended by 215 m compared to that in the 1970s. The mean accumulation area ratio (AAR) was 39% during the two years. Climatic-sensitivity experiments indicated that the change of glacier mass balance resulting from a 1.5 ℃ increase in air temperature could be offset by a 30% increase in annual precipitation. The glacier mass balance varied linearly with precipitation, at a rate of 130 mm w.e. per 10% change in total precipitation.

关键词: glacier, mass balance, energy- and mass-balance model, climate sensitivities

Abstract: Due to global warming, glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) are experiencing widespread shrinkage; however, the mechanisms controlling glacier variations across the TP are still rather unclear, especially on the northeastern TP. In this study, a physically based, distributed surface-energy and mass-balance model was used to simulate glacier mass balance forced by meteorological data. The model was applied to Laohugou No. 12 Glacier, western Qilian Mountains, China, during 2010~2012. The simulated albedo and mass balance were validated and calibrated by in situ measurements. The simulated annual glacier-wide mass balances were -385 mm water equivalent (w.e.) in 2010/2011 and -232 mm w.e. in 2011/2012, respectively. The mean equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) was 5,015 m a.s.l., during 2010~2012, which ascended by 215 m compared to that in the 1970s. The mean accumulation area ratio (AAR) was 39% during the two years. Climatic-sensitivity experiments indicated that the change of glacier mass balance resulting from a 1.5 ℃ increase in air temperature could be offset by a 30% increase in annual precipitation. The glacier mass balance varied linearly with precipitation, at a rate of 130 mm w.e. per 10% change in total precipitation.

Key words: glacier, mass balance, energy- and mass-balance model, climate sensitivities

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