Climate Change Research ›› 2024, Vol. 20 ›› Issue (5): 519-533.doi: 10.12006/j.issn.1673-1719.2024.074

Special Issue: 西风-季风协同作用下青藏高原典型水环境变化特征及其对气候变化的响应专栏

• Characteristics of typical water environment changes on the Tibetan Plateau under the synergy of westerly and monsoons and their response to climate change • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Progress in the study on the interaction between proglacial lake and lake-terminating glacier over the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

CHE Yan-Jun1,2,3(), CHEN Li-Hua1,3,4, WU Jia-Kang1,3,4, GU Lai-Lei5, WU Rong1, ZHANG Dong-Qi6, DING Ming-Hu6()   

  1. 1 Department of Geographical Science, Yichun University, Yichun 336000, China
    2 Midui Glacier-Guangxiecuo Glacial Lake Disaster Field Scientific Observation and Research Station in Tibet Autonomous Region, Linzhi 860000, China
    3 Yulong Snow Mountain Glacier and Environment Observation and Research Station/State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
    4 School of Geography and Environment, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, China
    5 College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China
    6 Institute of Global Change and Polar Study, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
  • Received:2024-04-23 Revised:2024-07-05 Online:2024-09-30 Published:2024-08-28

Abstract:

This paper reviews the mechanisms of interaction between glaciers and glacial lakes (mainly proglacial lakes) on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) based on existing research. It aims to understand the processes and patterns of glacier retreat and proglacial lake expansion on the QTP and deepen the understanding of the interaction mechanisms between glaciers and proglacial lakes. Proglacial lakes on the QTP are mainly distributed in the southeastern region over QTP, particularly in the Himalayas and Nyainqentanglha Mountains. Of the recorded and identified reason of glacial lake outburst flood events, 55% are caused by glacier dynamics, predominantly in the southeastern QTP including the Himalayas and the Nyainqentanglha Mountains. The interaction pattern between glaciers and proglacial lakes includes the effects of glaciers on proglacial lakes and the feedback of proglacial lakes on contacted glaciers. The effects of glaciers on glacial lakes mainly include providing space for the development of glacial lakes through glacier retreat, supplying abundant water sources for the formation and expansion of glacial lakes through glacier meltwater, and causing glacial lake outburst floods due to extreme glacier events, e.g. ice surface/internal water system outbursts, glacier advances/movements, ice avalanches. The feedback mechanisms of proglacial lakes on glaciers involve thermal melting of glaciers by proglacial lakes, mass loss from ice calving on the terminal glacier caused by dynamic processes of proglacial lakes, and the local climate effects of the evolution of proglacial lakes on their parent glaciers. It is important to note that the interaction between the two is not isolated but mutually dependent and simultaneous. Future research on glacier and proglacial lake should focus on: (1) Establishing unified glacier observation standards and glacier-lake datasets; (2) Integrating a comprehensive observation system that encompasses “climate-glacier-glacial lake-disaster” and sharing those observation datasets; (3) Coupling glacier and glacial lake models to quantify interaction processes and understand their mechanisms; (4) Standardizing the evaluation system for glacial lake outburst flood disasters and improving early warning mechanisms. Besides, the theories of glacier and glacial lake changes are relatively mature, while the theoretical research on the interactions between glaciers and proglacial lakes is still insufficient and urgently needs further development.

Key words: Proglacial lake, Glacier, Expansion of glacial lake, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

京ICP备11008704号-4
Copyright © Climate Change Research, All Rights Reserved.
Tel: (010)58995171 E-mail: accr@cma.gov.cn
Powered by Beijing Magtech Co. Ltd