Cryospheric change in China

Li, Xin; Cheng, Guodong; Jin, Huijun; Ersi, Kang; Che, Tao; Jin, Rui; Wu, Lizong; Zhang, Nan; Jian, Wang; Shen, Yongping

doi:10.1016/j.gloplacha.2008.02.001

Cited by 327 publications

(211 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Although much is at stake, our understanding of the spatial variability of snow accumulation and melt (altitude, east to west) is limited by a lack of research on an appropriate scale in the HKH region. The bulk of these studies have a regional to sub-regional focus (Zhang et al, 2004;Dahe et al, 2006;Li et al 2008;Zhang et al, 2010;Gurung et al 2011b;Maskey et al, 2011;Jin et al, 2015;Singh et al, 2014), and catchment level research is even more sparse (Jain et al, 2009;Kulkarni et al, 2010;Sharma et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate and topographic controls on snow cover dynamics in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

Gurung

Maharjan

Shrestha³

et al. 2017

Intl Journal of Climatology

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Snow governs interaction between atmospheric and land surface processes in high mountains, and is also source of fresh water. It is thus important to both climate scientists and local communities. However, our understanding of snow cover dynamics in terms of space and time is limited across the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, which is known to be a climatically sensitive region. We used MODIS snow cover area (SCA) data (2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012), APHRODITE temperature data (2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007), and monthly long term in-situ river discharge data of the Gandaki (1968Gandaki ( -2010, Koshi (1977Koshi ( -2010 and Manas (1987Manas ( -2004 basins to analyse variations among four basins. We gained insights into short term SCA and temperature, long term discharge trends, and regional variability thereby. Strong correlations were observed among SCA, temperature and discharge thereby highlighting the strong nexus between them. Temporal and spatial snow cover variability across the basins is strongly coupled with the variability of two weather systems: Western Disturbances (WD) and Indian Monsoon System (IMS), and strongly influenced by topography. Manifestation of these variability in terms if downstream discharge can have repercussion to water based sectors: hydropower and agriculture, as low flow seasons is seen affected. This study adds to our knowledge of snow fall and melt dynamics in the HKH region, and intra-annual snow melt contributions to downstream discharges. The study is limited by short span of data and it is desirable to perform a similar study using data representing a much longer time span.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate and topographic controls on snow cover dynamics in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

Gurung

Maharjan

Shrestha³

et al. 2017

Intl Journal of Climatology

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“…Tibetan glaciers have been melting at an accelerating, alarming rate over the past decade, raising the threat that many of the glaciers could be gone by midcentury (5,6). As glaciers recede and release stored water, flow temporarily increases, but the future fresh water supply is threatened (5)(6)(7)(8).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…As glaciers recede and release stored water, flow temporarily increases, but the future fresh water supply is threatened (5)(6)(7)(8). Once headwater glaciers are gone, however, a dramatic decline in dry season water availability may ensue.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Black soot and the survival of Tibetan glaciers

Cao

Hansen

et al. 2009

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

661

582

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We find evidence that black soot aerosols deposited on Tibetan glaciers have been a significant contributing factor to observed rapid glacier retreat. Reduced black soot emissions, in addition to reduced greenhouse gases, may be required to avoid demise of Himalayan glaciers and retain the benefits of glaciers for seasonal fresh water supplies.aerosols ͉ climate change ͉ fresh water ͉ glacier retreat ͉ Tibetan Plateau

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“…There have been recent efforts to document the glacier area loss in different mountain regions (Li et al, 2008;Kang et al, 2010) or drainage basins (e.g., Liu et al, 2006;Shangguan et al, 2009) of western China, but none of these inventories has emphasized on the whole LRB. The Lancang River originates at the inland high Tibetan Plateau; flows through China to Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam; is here renamed the Mekong River; and then ultimately merges into the South China Sea.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%