Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Glacier No. 4 of Sigong River over Mt. Bogda of eastern Tianshan, central Asia: thinning and retreat during the period 1962–2009

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

RTK-GPS data, aerial photographs and Aster images were used to quantify volume, surface elevation, terminus position and area changes of Glacier No. 4 of Sigong River over Mt. Bogda, Tianshan during the period from 1962 to 2009. Glacier surface elevation of the tongue area decreased by 15 ± 8 m (0.32 ± 0.17 m a−1) and ice volume loss reached 0.014 ± 0.008 km3 (0.013 ± 0.007 km3 w. e.). The glacier terminus retreated at a rate of 8.0 m a−1 and the area decreased by about 0.53 km2, accounting for 15.8% of the glacier area in 1962 (3.33 km2). The changes can be primarily attributed to the significant increase in temperature in this region. A comparison with glacier changes by field measurements in other regions of eastern Tianshan showed obvious spatial differences in the magnitude of the changes, owing to a combination of regional climate change and topographical factors.

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ageta Y, Kadota T (1992) Predictions of changes of glacier mass balance in the Nepal Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau: a case study of air temperature increase for three glaciers. Ann Glaciol 16:89–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Aizen VB, Aizen EM, Melack JM, Dozier J (1997) Climatic and hydrologic changes in the Tien Shan, Central Asia. J Clim 10(6):1393–1404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aizen VB, Kuzmichenok VA, Surazakov AB, Aizen EM (2006) Glacier changes in the central and northern Tien Shan during the last 140 years based on surface and remote-sensing data. Ann Glaciol 43:202–213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braithwaite RJ, Zhang Y (2000) Sensitivity of mass balance of five Swiss glaciers to temperature changes assessed by tuning a degree-day model. J Glaciol 46(152):7–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cox LH, March RS (2004) Comparison of geodetic and glaciological mass-balance techniques, Gulkana Glacier, Alaska, USA. J Glaciol 50(170):363–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Agata C, Zanutta A (2007) Reconstruction of the recent changes of a debris-covered glacier (Brenva Glacier, Mont Blanc Massif, Italy) using indirect sources: methods, results and validation. Glob Planet Change 56(1–2):57–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Agata C, Smiraglia C, Zanutta A, Mancini F (2005) Recent variations of a debris-covered glacier (Brenva glacier) in the Italian Alps monitored by comparison of maps and digital orthophotos. J Glaciol 51(172):183–185

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng YX, Deng XF (1983) Characteristics of periglacial landforms in Bogda area, Tianshan. J Glaciol Geocryol 5(3):179–190 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dikich AN, Hagg W (2004) Climate driven changes of glacier runoff in the Issyk-Kul basin, Kyrgystan. Z Gletscherk Glazialgeol 39:75–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Dyurgerov MB, Meier MF (2005) Glaciers and the changing earth system: a 2004 snapshot, occasional paper 58. Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, p 117

    Google Scholar 

  • Elsberg DH, Harrison WD, Echelmeyer KA, Krimmel RM (2001) Quantifying the effects of climate and surface change on glacier mass balance. J Glaciol 47(159):649–658

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fujii Y (1977) Field experiment on glacier ablation under a layer of debris cover. J Japn Soc Snow Ice 39(Specical Issue):20–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fujita K, Ageta Y (2000) Effect of summer accumulation on glacier mass balance on the Tibetan Palteau revealed by mass-balance model. J Glaciol 46:244–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glazyrin G, Braun LN, Shchettinnikov AS (2002) Sensitivity of mountain glaciation to climate changes in Central Asia. Z Gletscherk Glazialgeol 38:71–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Granshaw FD, Fountain AG (2006) Glacier change (1958–1998) in the North Cascades National Park Complex, Washington, USA. J Glaciol 52(177):251–256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haeberli W, Hoelzle M, Paul F, Zemp M (2007) Integrated monitoring of mountain glaciers as key indicators of global climate change: the European Alps. Ann Glaciol 46:150–160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hagen JO, Melvold K, Eiken T, Isaksson E, Lefauconnier B (1999) Mass balance methods on Kongsvegen, Svalbard. Geografiska Annaler 81A(4):593–601

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hagg W and Braun L (2005) The influence of glacier retreat on water yield from high mountain areas: comparison of Alps and Central Asian. In: climate and hydrology in mountain areas. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 263–275

  • Hoelzle M, Haeberli W, Dischl M, Peschke W (2003) Secular glacier mass balances derived from cumulative glacier length changes. Global Planet Change 36(4):295–306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huss M, Sugiyama S, Bauder A, Funk M (2007) Retreat scenarios of Unteraargletscher, Switzerland, using a combined ice-flow mass-balance model. Arct Antarct Alp Res 39(3):422–431

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson KM, Fountain AG (2007) Spatial and morphological change on Eliot Glacier, Mount Hood, Oregon, USA. Ann Glaciol 46:222–226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaser G, Cogley JG, Dyurgerov MB, Meier MF, Ohmura A (2006) Mass balance of glaciers and ice caps: consensus estimates for 1961–2004. Geophys Res Lett 33(19):L19501

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krimmel RM (1999) Analysis of difference between direct and geodetic mass balance measurements at South Cascade Glacier, Washington. Geografiska Annaler 81A(4):653–658

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn M (1981) Climate and glaciers. IAHS Publ. 131 (Symposium at Canberra 1979–Sea Level, Ice and Climatic Change): 3–20

  • Kuhn M, Markl G, Kaser G, Nickus U, Obleitner F (1985) Fluctuations of climate and mass balance: different responses of two adjacent glaciers. Z Gletscherk Glazialgeol 21:409–416

    Google Scholar 

  • Li ZQ, Shen YP, Wang FT, Li HL, Dong ZW, Wang WB, Wang L (2007a) Response of glacier melting to climate change-take Urumqi Glacier No.1 as an example. J Glaciol Geocryol 29(3):333–342 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li ZQ, Wang FT, Zhu GC, Li HL (2007b) Basic features of the Miaoergou flat-topped glacier in east Tianshan mountains and its thickness change over the past 24 years. J Glaciol Geocryol 29(1):61–65 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li ZQ, Shen YP, Li HL, Dong ZW, Wang LW (2008) Response of the melting of Urumqi glacier No. 1 in eastern Tianshan to climate change. Adv Clim Chang Res 4(suppl):67–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Li ZX, He YQ, Pu T, Jia WX, He XZ, Pang HX, Zhang NN, Liu Q, Wang SJ, Zhu GF, Wang SX, Chang L, Du JK, Xin HJ (2010) Changes of climate, glaciers and runoff in China’s monsoonal temperate glacier region during the last several decades. Quat Int 218:13–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu B (2009) Characteristics of climate changes in Xinjiang from 1960 to 2005. Clim Environ Res 14(4):414–426 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mattson LE, Gardner JS and Young GJ (1993) Ablation on debris covered glaciers: an example from the Rakhiot Glacier, Punjab, Himalaya. IAHS Publ. 218 (Symposium at Kathmandu, Nepal 1992–Snow and Glacier Hydrology): 289–296

  • Molina C, Navarro FJ, Calvet J (2007) Hurd Peninsula glaciers, Livingston, Island, Antarctica, as indicators of regional warming: ice-volume changes during the period 1956–2000. Ann Glaciol 46:43–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ohmura A (2001) Physical basis for the temperature-based meltindex method. J Appl Meteorol 40(4):753–761

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Østrem G, Haakensen N (1999) Map comparison or traditional mass-balance measurements: which method is better? Geografiska Annaler 81A(4):703–711

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Racoviteanu AE, Manley WF, Arnaud Y, Williams MW (2007) Evaluating digital elevation models for glaciological applications: an example from Nevado Coropuna, Peruvian Andes. Global Planet Change 59(1–4):110–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raymond C, Neumann TA, Rignot E, Echelmeyer K, Rivera A, Casassa G (2005) Retreat of Glaciar Tyndall, Patagonia, over the last half-century. J Glaciol 51(173):239–247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rivera A, Casassa G, Bamber JL, Kääb A (2005) Ice elevation changes of Glaciar Chico, southern Patagonia, using ASTER DEMs, aerial photographs and GPS data. J Glaciol 51(172):105–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schiefer E, Menounos B, Wheate R (2007) Recent volume loss of British Columbian glaciers, Canada. Geophysical Research Letters 34(16): L16503. doi:10.1029/2007GL030780

  • Shangguan DH, Liu SY, Ding YJ, Zhang YS, Du EJ, Wu Z (2008) Thinning and retreat of Xiao Dongkemadi glacier, Tibetan Plateau, since 1993. J Glaciol 54(188):949–951

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shi Y, Liu C, Wang Z, Liu S, Ye B (eds) (2005) A concise China glacier inventory. Shanghai Science Popularization Press, Shanghai

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomon S and 7 others, eds (2007) Climate change 2007: the physical science basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

  • State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping (2007) Technical rules for producing digital products of 1:10 000 1:50 000 fundamental geographic information. Part 1: Digital line graphs (DLG), CH/T 1015.1–2007

  • Surazakov AB, Aizen VB (2006) Estimating volume change of mountain glaciers using SRTM and map-based topographic data. IEEE Transactions Geoscience and Remote Sensing 44(10):2991–2995

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vanlooy JA, Forster RR (2008) Glacial changes of five southwest British Columbia icefields, Canada, mid-1980 s to 1999. J Glaciol 54(186):469–478

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vincent C (2002) Influence of climate change over the 20th Century on four French glacier mass balances, Journal of Geophysical Research 107(4375), (D19): 4375. doi:10.1029/2001JD000832

  • Wang JX, Wang J, Lu CP (2003) Problem of coordinate transformation between WGS-84 and BEIJING 54. J Geodesy and Geodynamics 23(3):70–73 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang PY, Li ZQ, Cao M, Li HL (2010) Variation of Qingbingtan Glacier No. 72 in Mt. Tuomuer Region during past 45 years. Scientia Geographica Sinica 30(6):962–967 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe O, Ageta Y, Zhang WJ (1983) Structural observations of the glaciers on the north slope of Mt Bogda, Tianshan. J Glaciol and Geocryol 5(3):71–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu GH, Zhang SY, Wang ZX (1983a) Retreat and advance of modern Glaciers in Bogda, Tianshan. J Glaciol Geocryol 5(3):143–152 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu GH, Ageta Y, Qiu JQ (1983b) Physical geographic features and climate conditions of glacial development in Bogda area, Tianshan. J Glaciol Geocryol 5(3):5–16 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Xie ZC, Wu GH, Wang ZX, Zhang WJ (1983) Ice formation of the glaciers on the northern slope of Bogda, Tianshan. J Glaciol Geocryol 5(3):37–45 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu XK, Pan BL, Hu E, Li YJ and Liang YH (2010) Response of two branches of Glacier No. 1 to climate change from 1993 to 2005, Tianshan, China. Quaternary International doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2010.06.013

  • Zhang Y, Koji F, Liu SY, Liu Q, Wang X (2010) Multi-decadal ice-velocity and elevation changes of a monsoonal maritime glacier: Hailuogou glacier, China. J Glaciol 56(195):65–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (2010CB951003), the Knowledge Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX2-EW-311), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 91025012, J0630966, and Y111141001).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences/Tian Shan Glaciological Station, Cold and Arid Region Environment and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, China

    Puyu Wang, Zhongqin Li, Huilin Li, Wenbin Wang & Feiteng Wang

  2. College of Geography and Environment Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, 730070, Gansu, China

    Min Cao

Authors
  1. Puyu Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zhongqin Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Huilin Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Min Cao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Wenbin Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Feiteng Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Puyu Wang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, P., Li, Z., Li, H. et al. Glacier No. 4 of Sigong River over Mt. Bogda of eastern Tianshan, central Asia: thinning and retreat during the period 1962–2009. Environ Earth Sci 66, 265–273 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1236-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1236-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation