Arid Zone Research ›› 2021, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (3): 618-628.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2021.03.04

• Water Resources and Ulilization • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Spatial changes of the glacial lakes in the western Nyainqentanglha Range

TAO Jing1(),ZHAO Wenji1(),WANG Xu2,XUE Jin3   

  1. 1. College of Resources Environment and Tourism, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
    2. School of Geography and Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
    3. Shenzhen Longhua District Development Research Institute, Shenzhen 518110, Guangdong, China
  • Received:2020-07-29 Revised:2020-09-16 Online:2021-05-15 Published:2021-06-17
  • Contact: Wenji ZHAO E-mail:jingt_yeol@l63.com;zhwenji1215@163.com

Abstract:

Based on the multi-source remote sensing image and DEM data, we analyzed the distribution and analysis of different dimensions of glacial lakes in western Nyainqentanglha from 1991 to 2017. Then we analyzed the relationship between changes in ice lakes and temperature and precipitation. The research results showed that the number and area of ice lakes in the study area had increased recently. They increased steadily from 1991 to 2006 and expanded from 2006 to 2107. The number of ice lakes increased by 161, and the area by 1.185 km2 in 26 years. The area and number of ice lakes are increasing in the middle-and high-altitude range. The newly-added ice lakes are mainly 5400-5700 m above sea level, and the number of ice lakes accounts for 72.41% of the total number. The distribution and growth rates of glacial lakes with different aspects are different. The glacial lake on the southwest slope grew rapidly, while the north slope’s glacial lake grew slowly. Glacier melting caused by rising temperatures is an indirect factor for ice lake growth, and precipitation is an essential factor for ice lake growth. Ice lakes with smaller area grades have a more sensitive response to climate and more significant changes. Ice lakes with larger area grades have stronger stability and smaller changes. The dynamic change of ice lakes is closely related to climate change, and it is instructive for predicting glaciers change and ice lake collapse disasters in western Nyainqentanglha.

Key words: western Nyainqentanglha Range, remote sensing, glacial lake, climate change