A review of the modem fluctuations of tropical glaciers
A review of the modem fluctuations of tropical glaciers
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DOI：
10.1016/s0921-8181(99)00028-4
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发表时间：
1999-10-01
影响因子：
3.9
通讯作者：
Kaser, G
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Kaser, G
热带气候的特点是没有锋面活动的均匀大气，缺乏热季节性，以及一到两个不同的明显降水季节。因此，热带气候对热带冰川有着独特的影响，冰川-气候相互作用不同于中高纬度地区，热带南美洲、非洲和新几内亚的冰川在小冰期（LIA）时达到最大，自19世纪后半叶开始消退。自那时以来，波动在不同地区表现得不同，但其一般行为基本上是同步的。世纪初，许多冰川从LIA范围的退缩减缓，其中一些冰川甚至几乎重新前进到LIA范围。20世纪30年代和40年代带来了明显的冰量损失，随后是温和的撤退。1970年前后，经济衰退总体上有所减缓。一些冰川甚至向前推进。过去十年的特点再次是，所有正在观察的热带山脉都出现了明显的冰川衰退。热带冰川的现代变化与中纬度冰川的现代变化具有很强的同步性，气候湿度的降低以及由此引起的能量平衡和物质平衡的变化是LIA末期以来热带冰川整体衰退的主要原因。气温上升只是冰川消退的部分原因。1980年代以来的加速衰退很可能是由于气温上升和空气湿度增加造成的。然而，与中高纬度地区的冰川相比，对热带冰川的了解仍然很少。本文回顾了目前对热带冰川波动的了解。(C)1999 Elsevier Science B. V.保留所有权利。
The tropical climate is characterized by a homogeneous atmosphere without frontal activity, a lack of thermal seasonality, and by one to two differently pronounced precipitation seasons. Consequently, tropical climate has a characteristic impact on tropical glaciers, with glacier-climate interactions different from those of the mid- and high-latitudes.The glaciers of tropical South America, Africa and New Guinea had a general maximum extent during the Little Ice Age (LIA) and have receded since the second half of the 19th century. Since then the fluctuations have been differently pronounced in different regions, but their general behaviour has been largely synchronous. The retreat from the LIA extent slowed on many glaciers at the beginning of the 20th century, some of them even readvanced almost to the LIA extent. The 1930s and 1940s brought a marked loss of ice masses and were followed by a moderate retreat. Around 1970 the recession generally slowed. Some glaciers even advanced. The last decade was again characterized by a pronounced glacier recession on all tropical mountains which are under observation. The modern fluctuations of tropical glaciers are also quite synchronous to those of the glaciers in the mid-latitudes.A reduction in air humidity with all the consequent changes in energy and mass balance is suggested to be a major reason for the general recession of tropical glaciers since the end of LIA. The rise in air temperature explains only part of the glacier recession. The accelerated recession since the 1980s is most probably caused by increased air temperature and increased air humidity. Nevertheless, the knowledge of tropical glaciers is still scarce compared to those of the mid and high latitudes. This contribution reviews present knowledge of the fluctuations of tropical glaciers. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.