Journal of Geographical Sciences, Volume. 30, Issue 1, 131(2020)

Glacial changes in the Gangdisê Mountains from 1970 to 2016

Juan LIU1,1,1,1, Xiaojun YAO1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1、*, Shiyin LIU1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1, Wanqin GUO1,1,1,1, and Junli XU1,1,1,1
Author Affiliations
  • 11College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China
  • 12State Key Laboratory of Cryosphere Sciences, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, CAS, Lanzhou 730000, China
  • 13Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
  • 14Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng 224051, Jiangsu, China
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    Figures & Tables(11)
    Distribution of glaciers in the Gangdisê Mountains
    Number and area of glaciers with different sizes in the Gangdisê Mountains from 2015-2016
    Changes in the number and area of glaciers with different sizes in the Gangdisê Mountains from 1970 to 2016
    Altitude characteristics of changes in glacier area in the Gangdisê Mountains from 1970 to 2016
    Orientational characteristics of glacial changes in the Gangdisê Mountains from 1970 to 2016
    Changes in glacier area in different sections of the Gangdisê Mountains from 1970 to 2016
    Average temperature during the ablation period and annual precipitation in the Gangdisê Mountains from 1970 to 2016
    • Table 1.

      Landsat OLI images used to obtain glacier data in the Gangdisê Mountains from 2015-2016

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      Table 1.

      Landsat OLI images used to obtain glacier data in the Gangdisê Mountains from 2015-2016

      NumberOrbit numberAcquisition dateNumberOrbit numberAcquisition date
      PathRowPathRow
      1138392016-04-278143382016-10-07
      2138402016-04-279143392016-09-05
      3139392016-03-1710144382016-06-24
      4140392016-10-1811145372016-10-15
      5141392016-05-1812145382016-09-03
      6141402015-10-0713146372016-09-10
      7142392015-09-28
    • Table 2.

      Glacier statistics for different basins in the Gangdisê Mountains from 2015-2016

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      Table 2.

      Glacier statistics for different basins in the Gangdisê Mountains from 2015-2016

      Basin (code)Secondary basin(code)Tertiary basin(code)NumberAreaVolume
      (%)(km2)(%)(km2)(%)
      Ganges River (5O)Yarlung Zangbo River (5O2)Dogxung Zangbo (5O26)137234.71413.6531.6616.6328.65
      Indus River(5Q)Sênggê Zangbo (5Q1)Sênggê Zangbo (5Q15)70317.78172.3613.197.5412.99
      Langqên Zangbo (5Q2)Langqên Zangbo (5Q22)2275.7440.093.071.302.24
      Total93023.52212.4516.268.8415.23
      Tibetan Plateau interior(5Z)Selin Co (5Z2)Selin Co (5Z22)431.0915.461.180.661.14
      Zhari Namco (5Z3)Dangta Yumco (5Z31)1042.6327.282.090.931.60
      Zhari Namco (5Z32)1824.6161.484.712.524.34
      Taro Co (5Z33)3017.61157.6412.076.8011.71
      Ngangla Ring Co (5Z34)53113.43343.1226.2619.4733.54
      Bangong Co (5Z4)Bangong Co (5Z42)49012.4075.375.772.203.79
      Total165141.78680.3552.0829.7251.19
    • Table 3.

      Glacier statistics in different administrative divisions in the Gangdisê Mountains from 2015-2016

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      Table 3.

      Glacier statistics in different administrative divisions in the Gangdisê Mountains from 2015-2016

      City (region)NumberAreaVolume
      (%)(km2)(%)(km3)(%)
      Lhasa461.1722.831.751.131.94
      Xigazê160340.55607.8746.5327.0946.58
      Ngari226057.17665.1350.9129.6050.89
      Naqu441.1110.620.810.340.58
    • Table 4.

      Statistics of glacier changes in western China in recent decades

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      Table 4.

      Statistics of glacier changes in western China in recent decades

      NameTime periodArea change(km2)Relative rate of glacier area change (%·a-1)Data source
      Altay Mountains1960-2009-104.61-0.94Yao et al., 2012
      Tianshan Mountains1959-2010-1619.82-0.40Xing et al., 2017
      A°Nyêmaqên Mountains1966-2000-21.70-0.56Liu et al., 2002
      Altun Mountains1973-2010-54.22-0.46Zhu et al., 2013
      Qilian Mountains1956-2010-417.15-0.43Sun et al., 2018
      Middle section of the Tanggula Mountains1990-2015-115.46-1.00Wang et al., 2016
      Central and Western Qangtang Plateau1970-2000-5.07-0.03Li et al., 2009
      Gangdisê Mountains1970-2016-854.05-1.09This study
      Western region of the Nyainqetanglha Range1970-2000-52.10-0.19Shangguan et al., 2008
      Kangri Karpo Mountains1980-2015-679.50-0.82Wu et al., 2018
      Luozha region, Eastern Himalayas1980-2007-80.77-0.66Li et al., 2011
      Gongga Mountain1974-2010-30.20-0.35Li et al., 2013
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    Juan LIU, Xiaojun YAO, Shiyin LIU, Wanqin GUO, Junli XU. Glacial changes in the Gangdisê Mountains from 1970 to 2016[J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2020, 30(1): 131

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    Paper Information

    Received: Feb. 19, 2019

    Accepted: May. 30, 2019

    Published Online: Sep. 29, 2020

    The Author Email: YAO Xiaojun (yaoxj_nwnu@163.com)

    DOI:10.1007/s11442-020-1719-6

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