Authors: Shangguan, Donghui; Liu, Shiyin; Ding, Yongjian; Ding, Lianfu; Xiong, Libing; Cai, Dihua; Li, Gang; Lu, Anxin; Zhang, Shiqiang; Zhang, Yong

Source: Annals of Glaciology, Volume 43, Number 1, September 2006 , pp. 79-85(7)

Publisher: International Glaciological Society

Abstract:

Glaciers in the Muztag Ata and Konggur mountains of the eastern Pamir plateau, northwestern China, have been monitored by applying aerial photo stereo models (1962/66) and Landsat TM (1990) and ETM+ (1999) images, all of which have been compared in order to detect areal and frontal changes through the past four decades. The mean frontal retreat of glaciers in the Muztag Ata and Konggur mountains increased from 6.0 m a⁻¹ between 1962/66 and 1990 to 11.2 m a⁻¹ between 1990 and 1999, with an overall glacier length reduction of 9.9% for the whole study period. The glacier area has decreased by 7.9%, mainly due to changes observed in the most recent period (1990-99), when the annual area loss almost tripled to 1.01 km² a⁻¹. Based on meteorological data from Taxkogan station since 1957, we conclude that climate change, particularly the rise in summer temperature after 1994, is the main forcing factor in glacier shrinkage.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/172756406781812393

Publication date: 2006-09-01

More about this publication?

• The Annals of Glaciology is a peer-reviewed, thematic journal published 2 to 4 times a year by the International Glaciological Society (IGS). Publication frequency is determined and volume/issue numbers assigned by the IGS Council on a year-to-year basis and with a lead time of 3 to 4 years. The Annals of Glaciology is included in the ISI Science Citation Index from volume 50, number 50 onwards.

  Themes can be on any aspect of the study of snow and ice. Individual members can make a suggestion for a theme for an Annals issue to the Secretary General, who will forward it to the IGS Publications Committee. The IGS Publication Committee will make a recommendation for an individual themed Annals issue, together with a potential Annals Chief Editor for that issue, to IGS Council. The IGS Council will make the decision whether to proceed, taking into account the spread of topics and the overall capacity for publication of pages in Annals.

• Editorial Board
• Information for Authors
• ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Geology ,  Meteorology & Climatology
• By this author: Shangguan, Donghui ;  Liu, Shiyin ;  Ding, Yongjian ;  Ding, Lianfu ;  Xiong, Libing ;  Cai, Dihua ;  Li, Gang ;  Lu, Anxin ;  Zhang, Shiqiang ;  Zhang, Yong

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers