This article, based on the field work took place on the zone of Tuomuer (托木尔) Peak, western Tian Shan (天山) during the period May 2008 to September 2009, obtained the spatial distribution of debris layer on the reference glaciers (Glacier No. 72, Glacier No. 74, Tuomuer Glacier) by detailed measurements of debris thickness and ablation rates on glacier and further by Spot-5 (5 m, 2005) high-resolution satellitic image applying remote sensing and geographic information systems approach to research the spatial distribution of debris layer on the zone of Tuomuer Peak. Specifically, the results indicate a sharp in ablation with debris cover thickness increasing from 0-4 cm followed by a decrease in ablation with debris thickness increasing beyond 4 cm for the glaciers No. 72 and No. 74. Spatial distributions of debris layer on the three reference glaciers have the same characteristics, the overall distribution from the vertical, the maximum thickness of debris in the glacier terminal, and the thickness of debris is constantly thinning since the end of the glacier increases with altitude. For the overall distribution from the horizontal, the regular pattern of debris thickness from both sides to the middle is diminishing. The debris on the zone of Tuomuer Peak mostly covered the glacier tongue and is mainly distributed below the altitude of 4 000 m; the area of debris covered approximate accounted for 14.9% on the entire glacier area in this region. Spatial distribution of debris layer on the zone of Tuomuer Peak is mainly affected by the elevation of the glacier terminal, followed by the slopes orientation, the sizes, and so on.
To investigate the seasonal variability and potential environmental significance of trace elements in mountain glaciers, the surface snow and snow pit samples were collected at Urumqi Glacier No. 1 (43o06'N, 86o49'E, 4 130 m a.s.l.), eastern Tianshan (天山), from September 2002 to September 2003, and analyzed for Li, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, and Ba. The samples were acidified (leached) in a manner intended to reasonably approximate the extent to which the natural hydrologic and weathering cycles would liberate elements from mineral grains (dusts) in the ice and snow into the environment. The mean concentrations of Li, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, and Ba are 0.2, 1.1, 0.8, 14.8, 0.1, 0.7, and 3.2 ng/g in surface snow but 1.0, 2.2, 1.8, 92.4, 0.8, 2.9, and 16.2 ng/g in snow pits, respectively. Input varies seasonally: in general, concentrations in the winter are higher than those in the summer. The trace elements are somewhat enriched (relative to expected abundances in material taken directly from the earth's crust) and similar to what is observed in both pre-industrial and modern atmospheric dusts, although some anthropogenic components from nearby industrial cities may be present. Concentration vertical profiles can be redistributed in the post-depositional process, which may cause loss of trace elements in the summer.
Samples were continuously collected from aerosol, fresh snow, and snow pits on Glacier No. 1 at Urumqi River source in eastern Tianshan (天山) Mountains. The deposition processes and the characteristics of mineral dust microparticles from aerosol to fresh snow, and then evolution to the snow pit were determined. Total dust microparticle concentration in the surface snow and aerosol showed a similar temporal variation trend, which was strongly associated with regional and local at-mospheric circulation in the Tianshan Mountains region of Central Asia. Especially from November to February, the correlation coefficient of microparticles concentration in surface snow and aerosol is very high (R2=0.7). Vertical profiles of microparticles in the snow pits showed that observed dust layers were in high correlation with concentration peaks of large microparticles (d>10 μm), but low correlation with that of fine microparticles (d<1 μm). Moreover, explicit post-depositional process of dust particles was studied by tracking some typical dust concentration peaks in the snow pit. We find that late sum-mer is a key period for post-deposition of dust particles in the snow, as particle concentration peaks in the snow pit evolve intensely during this period. Such evolutional pattern of large particles makes it possible to preserve information of at-mospheric dust in the snow, which offers an available proof to reconstruct historical climate using ice cores on Glacier No. 1 and other gla-ciers in the Tianshan Mountains.
In order to verify the feasibility and stability of a degree-day model on simulating the long time series of glacier mass balance, we apply a degree-day model to simulate the mass balance of Urumqi Glacier No. 1 for the period 1987/1988-2007/2008 based on temperature and precipitation data from a nearby climate station. The model is calibrated by simulating point measurements of mass bal-ance, mass balance profiles, and mean specific mass balance during 1987/1988-1996/1997. The opti-mized parameters are obtained by using a least square method to make the model fit the measured mass balance through the model calibration. The model validation (1997/1998-2007/2008) indicates that the modeled results are in good agreement with the observations. The static mass balance sensitiv-ity of Urumqi Glacier No. 1 is analyzed by computing the mass balance of the glacier for a temperature increase of 1 ℃, with and without a 5% precipitation increase, and the values for the east branch are -0.80 and -0.87 m w.e. a-1·℃-1, respectively, and for the west branch, the values are -0.68 and -0.74 m w.e. a-1·℃-1, respectively. Moreover, the analysis of the parameter stability indicates that the parame-ters in the model determined from the current climate condition can be applied in the prediction of the future mass balance changes for the glacier and provide a reference for extending the model to other small glaciers in western China.
Glacial features in the geological record provide essential clues about past behavior of climate. Of the numerous physical systems on earth, glaciers are one of most responsive to climate change, especially small glaciers, their direct marginal response taking only a few years or decades to be expressed. Accelerating recession of modern glaciers raises the issue of the climate's impact on water runoff. Data based on topographic maps and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Radiometer (ASTER) imagery show the trends that are highly variable over time and within the region. An analysis of the local topographic settings of very small (<0.5 km2) glaciers was conducted to investigate their in-fluence on recent changes in these glaciers. Among 137 glaciers, 12 disappeared completely. The study reveals that glaciers situated in favorable locations had tiny relative area reduction, while those in less favorable settings generally had large area loss or even disappeared. It is suggested that most of the small glaciers studied have retreated as far as they are likely to under the climatic conditions of the late 20th century. Undoubtedly, the strong retreating of small glaciers exerts adverse effects on the hydro-logic cycle and local socioeconomic development.
