Spatial Distribution of the Debris Layer on Glaciers of the Tuomuer Peak, Western Tian Shan

Lin Wang; Zhongqin Li; Feiteng Wang

doi:10.1007/s12583-011-0205-6

Volume 22 Issue 4

Aug 2011

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Journal of Earth Science > 2011 > 22(4): 528-538.

Lin Wang, Zhongqin Li, Feiteng Wang. Spatial Distribution of the Debris Layer on Glaciers of the Tuomuer Peak, Western Tian Shan. Journal of Earth Science, 2011, 22(4): 528-538. doi: 10.1007/s12583-011-0205-6

Citation:

Lin Wang, Zhongqin Li, Feiteng Wang. Spatial Distribution of the Debris Layer on Glaciers of the Tuomuer Peak, Western Tian Shan. Journal of Earth Science, 2011, 22(4): 528-538. doi: 10.1007/s12583-011-0205-6

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Spatial Distribution of the Debris Layer on Glaciers of the Tuomuer Peak, Western Tian Shan

doi: 10.1007/s12583-011-0205-6

Lin Wang^{1
,
,},
Zhongqin Li^{1, 2},
Feiteng Wang¹

1.
State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences/Tien Shan Glaciological Station, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
2.
College of Geography and Environment Sciences, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China

Funds:

the Knowledge Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences KZCX2-EW-311

the National Basic Research Program of China 2010CB951003

the National Natural Science Foundation of China 1141001040

the National Natural Science Foundation of China J0930003/J0109

the SKLCS Founding SKLCS-ZZ-2010-04

More Information

Corresponding author: Lin Wang, tingting729@163.com
Received Date: 30 Dec 2010
Accepted Date: 28 Apr 2011
Publish Date: 01 Aug 2011

Abstract

Abstract

This article, based on the field work took place on the zone of Tuomuer (托木尔) Peak, western Tian Shan (天山) during the period May 2008 to September 2009, obtained the spatial distribution of debris layer on the reference glaciers (Glacier No. 72, Glacier No. 74, Tuomuer Glacier) by detailed measurements of debris thickness and ablation rates on glacier and further by Spot-5 (5 m, 2005) high-resolution satellitic image applying remote sensing and geographic information systems approach to research the spatial distribution of debris layer on the zone of Tuomuer Peak. Specifically, the results indicate a sharp in ablation with debris cover thickness increasing from 0–4 cm followed by a decrease in ablation with debris thickness increasing beyond 4 cm for the glaciers No. 72 and No. 74. Spatial distributions of debris layer on the three reference glaciers have the same characteristics, the overall distribution from the vertical, the maximum thickness of debris in the glacier terminal, and the thickness of debris is constantly thinning since the end of the glacier increases with altitude. For the overall distribution from the horizontal, the regular pattern of debris thickness from both sides to the middle is diminishing. The debris on the zone of Tuomuer Peak mostly covered the glacier tongue and is mainly distributed below the altitude of 4 000 m; the area of debris covered approximate accounted for 14.9% on the entire glacier area in this region. Spatial distribution of debris layer on the zone of Tuomuer Peak is mainly affected by the elevation of the glacier terminal, followed by the slopes orientation, the sizes, and so on.
- Glacier No. 72,
- Glacier No. 74,
- Tuomuer Glacier,
- debris covered,
- distribution characteristics

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References(31)

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