Open AccessResponse of Glacier and Lake Dynamics in Four Inland Basins to Climate Change at the Transition Zone between the Karakorum And Himalayas
Author(s) -
Zhiguo Li,
Fan Kuang-sheng,
Lide Tian,
Shi Ben-lin,
Shuhong Zhang,
Jingjing Zhang
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0144696
Subject(s) - glacier , climate change , physical geography , structural basin , geology , plateau (mathematics) , glacial period , precipitation , accumulation zone , evapotranspiration , period (music) , hydrology (agriculture) , climatology , geomorphology , oceanography , geography , ecology , cryosphere , sea ice , mathematical analysis , physics , mathematics , geotechnical engineering , meteorology , acoustics , ice stream , biology
Inland glacier and lake dynamics on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and its surroundings over recent decades are good indicators of climate change and have a significant impact on the local water supply and ecosystem. The glacier and lake changes in Karakoram are quite different from those of the Himalayas. The mechanisms of the complex and regionally heterogeneous behavior of the glacier and lake changes between the Karakorum and Himalayas are poorly understood. Based on satellite images and meteorological data of Shiquanhe, Hetian, and Yutian stations, we demonstrate that the overall retreat of glaciers and increase of lake area at the transition zone between the Karakoram and Himalayas (TKH) have occurred since 1968 in response to a significant global climate change. Glacial areas in the Songmuxi Co basin, Zepu Co basin, Mang Co basin and Unnamed Co decreased by -1.98 ± 0.02 km 2 , -5.39 ± 0.02 km 2 , -0.01 ± 0.02 km 2 , and -0.12 ± 0.02 km 2 during the study period, corresponding to losses of -1.42%, -2.86%, -1.54%, and -1.57%, respectively. The lake area of the Songmuxi Co, Zepu Co, Mang Co and Unnamed Co increased by 7.57 ± 0.02 km 2 , 8.53 ± 0.02 km 2 , 1.35 ± 0.02 km 2 , and 0.53±0.02 km 2 , corresponding to growths of 30.22%, 7.55%, 11.39%, and 8.05%, respectively. Increases in temperature was the main reason for glacier retreat, whereas decreases in potential evapotranspiration of lakes, increases in precipitation, and increases in melt water from glaciers and frozen soil all contributed to lake area expansion.