Study on impacts of global warming in Himalayan cryosphere

1.自动观测系统继续在喜马拉雅南坡昆布地区和喜马拉雅北坡唐古拉地区进行长期监测。已经获得了有关最近全球变暖对高喜马拉雅山脉影响的重要数据，这些地区的观测数据非常差。冰川变化观测20世纪70年代观测到的冰川，在喜马拉雅山脉南坡观察到明显的萎缩。在尼泊尔西部的隐谷，Rikha Samba冰川的末端近20年来退缩了约200米；在尼泊尔东部的Shorong地区，AX010冰川近17年来厚度减少了约20米；尼泊尔东部昆布冰川的下部出现了明显的厚度减薄。全球变暖导致冰川加速融化，导致冰川湖泊扩大，突发性洪涝灾害危险性增加。通过野外冰川气象水文观测、飞机遥感和卫星资料分析等方法，研究了冰川物质平衡、热量平衡和反照率之间的关系，以及厚冰川碎屑和池塘对冰川融化的影响。发现了喜马拉雅冰冻圈特征现象的重要信息，如冰川表面细菌和藻类降低反照率对冰川融化的加速作用，以及厚层碎屑覆盖下冰川融化评估方法的新发展。此外，还开展了以下工作：水和物质循环研究的采样和分析；卫星数据算法的发展；利用树轮和雪芯分析现代气候变化；利用航空照片和地形图分析现代冰川变化。

1. Automatic observation systemsLong-term monitoring in the Khumbu region on the south slope of the Himalayas and in the Tanggula region on the north slope of the Himalayas has been continued. Important data concerning the effect of the recent global warming on the high Himalayas, where such observational data were very poor, have been obtained.2. Observations of glacier variationsGlaciers which were observed in 1970s were resurveyed, and distinct shrinkage was observed on the south slope of the Himalayas. In Hidden Valley, west Nepal, the terminus of Rikha Samba Glacier retreated about 200m in the recent 20 years ; in Shorong region, east Nepal, the thickness of Glacier AX010 decreased around 20m in the recent 17 years ; the lower part of Khumbu Glacier, east Nepal showed distinct decrease of the thickness. Acceleration of glacier melting due to the global warming has caused enlargement of glacier lakes and is increasing dangerousness of outburst flood disaster.3. Observations on process an mechanism of glacier variationRelations between glacier mass balance, heat balance and albedo, and effects of thick supra-glacial debris and ponds on glacier melting were studied by the methods of glaciological-meteorological-hydrological observations in the field, remote sensing from airplanes and satellite data analyzes. Important information on characteristic phenomena in the Himalayan cryosphere wree found such as acceleration effect on glacier melting due to lowering of albedo by bacteria and algae on the glacier surface, and new development of evaluation method for glacier melting under thick debris cover.4. OthersThe followings were carried our : sampling and analyzes for study on water and material cycle ; development of algorithm for satellite data ; analyzes of recent climatic change by the use of tree rings and snow core ; analyzes of recent glacier variations by the use of air photos and topographical maps.