Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Hydrological characteristics of the Rongbuk Glacier catchment in Mt. Qomolangma region in the central Himalayas, China

  • Published:
Journal of Mountain Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

From 8 April to 11 October in 2005, hydrological observation of the Rongbuk Glacier catchment was carried out in the Mt. Qomolangma (Everest) region in the central Himalayas, China. The results demonstrated that due to its large area with glacier lakes at the tongue of the Rongbuk Glacier, a large amount of stream flow was found at night, which indicates the strong storage characteristic of the Rongbuk Glacier catchment. There was a time lag ranging from 8 to 14 hours between daily discharge peaks and maximum melting (maximum temperature). As melting went on the time lag got shorter. A high correlation was found between the hydrological process and daily temperature during the ablation period. The runoff from April to October was about 80% of the total in the observation period. Compared with the discharge data in 1959, the runoff in 2005 was much more, and the runoff in June, July and August increased by 69%, 35% and 14%, respectively. The rising of temperature is a major factor causing the increase in runoff. The discharges from precipitation and snow and ice melting are separated. The discharge induced by precipitation accounts for about 20% of the total runoff, while snow and ice melting for about 80%.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Braithwaite, R. J., Olesen, O.B. 1989. Calculation of Glacier Ablation from Air Temperature, West Greenland. In: Oerlemans, J., (ed), Glacier Fluctuations and Climate Change, Glaciology and Quaternary Geology. Dordrecht. Pp. 219–233.

  • Braithwaite, R. J., Olesen, O.B. 1990. Response of the Energy Balance on the Margin of the Greenland Ice Sheet to Temperature Changes. Journal of Glaciology 36(123): 217–221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lang, H., Braun, L. 1990. On the Information Content of Air Temperature in the Context of Snow Melt Estimation. In: Molnar, L., (ed.), Hydrology of Mountainous Area, Proceedings of the Strbske Pleso Symposium. International Association of Hydrological Sciences. Publication No.190. Pp. 347–354.

  • Egger, J., Bajrachaya, S., Egger, U. 2000. Diurnal Winds in the Himalayan Kali Gandaki Valley. Part I: Observations. Monthly Weather Review 128: 1106–1122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Egger, J., Bajrachaya, S., Heinrich, R. et al. 2002. Diurnal Winds in the Himalayan Kali Gandaki Valley. Part III: Remotely Piloted Aircraft Soundings. Monthly Weather Review 130: 2042–2058.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hock, R., Hooke, Roger Leb. 1993. Evolution of the Internal Drainage System in the Lower Part of the Ablation Area of Storglaciären, Sweden. Geological Society of America Bulletin 105: 537–546.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hock, R. 2003. Temperature Index Melt Modeling in Mountainous Areas. Journal of Hydrology 282(1–4): 104–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hock, R. 2005. Glacier Melt: a Review of Processes and their Modeling. Progress in Physical Geography 29(3): 362–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • HOU Shugui, QIN Dahe, ZHANG Dongqi. et al. 2002. Comparison of Two Ice Core Chemical Records Recovered from the Everest (Mount- Everest) Region. Annals of Glaciology. 35: 266–272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jansson, P., Hock, R., Schneider, T. 2003. The Concept of Glacier Storage: a Review. Journal of Hydrology 282: 115–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • KANG Shichang, Mayewski, P. A., QIN Dahe. 2002. Twentieth Century Increase of Atmospheric Ammonia Recorded in Mt. Everest ice core. Journal of Geophysical Research. 107(D21), 10.1029/2001JD001413, 4595.

  • KANG, Shichang, Mayewski, P. A, QIN Dahe. 2002. Glaciochemical Records from a Mt. Everest Ice Core: Relationship to Atmospheric Circulation over Asia. Atmospheric Environ-ment, 36(21): 3351–3361.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • KANG Shichang, QIN Dahe, REN Jiawen. 2006. Relationships between an Ice Core Records from Southern Tibetan Plateau and Atmospheric Circulation over Asia. Quaternary Sciences. 26(2): 153–164. (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • WU Ming, XIANG Xilong, YAN Buling. 1962. Report of scientific expedition in Mt. Qomolangma. Beijing, Sciences Press, Pp: 152–180

    Google Scholar 

  • Nash, L. L., Leick, P. H. 1993. The Sensitivity of Streamflow in the Calorado Basin to Climate Change. Journal of Hydrology 125: 221–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • QIN, Dahe, Mayewski, P. A., Wake, C. P. 2000. Evidence for Recent Climate Change from Ice Cores in the Central Himalayas. Annals of Glaciology. 31: 153–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • QIN Dahe, HOU Shugui, ZHANG Dongqi. 2002. Preliminary Results from the Chemical Records of an 80.4 m Ice Core Recovered from East Rongbuk Glacier, Everest (Mount Everest). Annals of Glaciology 35: 278–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • REN Jiawen, JING Zhefan, PU Jianchen. 2006. Glacier Variations and Climate Change in the Central Himalayas over the Past Few Decades. Annals of Glaciology 43: 218–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • REN Jiawen, QIN Dahe, KANG Shichang, HOU Shugui, PU Jianchen and JING Zhefan. 2004. Glacier Variations and Climate Warming and Drying in the Central Himalayas. Chinese Science Bulletin 49(1): 65–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Röthlisberger, H., Lang, H. 1987. Glacialhydrology. In: Gurnell, A.M., Clark, M.J. (eds.), Glaciofluvial Sediment transfer, An Alpine Perspective, Wiley, New York. 10: Pp.207–184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh, Pratap, Kumar N. 1997. Impact of Climate Change on Hydrological Response of a Snow and Glacier Melt Runoff Dominated Himalayan River. Journal of Hydrology 193: 316–350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh Pratap, Kumar N., Arora M. 2000. Degree-day Factors for Snow and Ice for Dokriani Glacier, Garhwal Himalayas, Journal of Hydrology 235: 1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh Pratap, Haritashya Umesh k., Kumar Naresh. 2003. Seasonal Changes in Meltwater Storage and Drainage Characteristcs of the Dokriani Glacier, Garhwal Himalayas (India). Nordic Hydrology. 35(1): 15–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh Pratap, Haritashyaumeshk, Kumar naresh, Singh Yatveer. 2006. Hydrological Characteristics of the Gangotri Glacier, Central Himalayas, India. Journal of Hydrology 327: 55–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Venables, S. 2003. Everest Summit of Achievement. London: Royal Geographical Society. Pp.252.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willis, I.C., Sharp, M.J., Richards, K.S. 1990. Configuration of the Drainage System of Mitdalsbreen, Norway, as Indicated by Dyetracing Experiments. Journal of Glaciology 36: 89–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • XIE Aihong, REN jiawen, QIN Xiang, KANG Shichang. 2008. Pressure and Temperature Feasibility of NECP/NCAR Reanalysis Data at Mt. Everest. Journal of Mountain Science 5(1): 32–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • XIAO Cunde, KANG Shichang, QIN Dahe et al. 2002. Transport of Atmospheric Impurities over the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibetan) Plateau as Shown by Snow Chemistry. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 20: 231–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • YANG Zhenniang, ZENG Qunzhu. 2001. Glacier Hydrology. Chongqing. Chongqing Press Pp.75–102.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Weigang Liu, Jiawen Ren, Xiang Qin, Xiaoqing Cui & Yetang Wang

  2. Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 10085, China

    Jingshi Liu & Qiang Liu

Authors
  1. Weigang Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jiawen Ren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xiang Qin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jingshi Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Qiang Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Xiaoqing Cui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Yetang Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiang Qin.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Liu, W., Ren, J., Qin, X. et al. Hydrological characteristics of the Rongbuk Glacier catchment in Mt. Qomolangma region in the central Himalayas, China. J. Mt. Sci. 7, 146–156 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-010-1069-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-010-1069-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation