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。关于最近全球变暖对喜马拉雅高原的影响的重要数据已经获得，而这些观测数据非常少。冰川变化的观测对20世纪70年代观测到的冰川进行了重新调查，在喜马拉雅山南坡观测到明显的萎缩。在尼泊尔西部的隐谷，Rikha Samba冰川的终点近20年来退缩了约200米；在尼泊尔东部的Shorong地区，AX010冰川的厚度在近17年间减少了约20m；尼泊尔东部昆布冰川下部厚度明显减小。全球变暖导致冰川融化加速，导致冰川湖泊扩大，溃决洪涝灾害危险性增加。冰川变化过程与机制的观测通过冰川-气象-水文野外观测、飞机遥感和卫星资料分析等方法，研究了冰川物质平衡、热平衡与反照率的关系，以及厚冰上碎屑和冰池对冰川融化的影响。3 .发现了喜马拉雅山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，以及厚碎屑覆盖下冰川融化评价方法的新进展。其他：为研究水循环和物质循环进行了采样和分析；卫星数据处理算法的发展利用树木年轮和雪核分析近年气候变化利用航空照片和地形图分析最近冰川的变化。

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.