Changes of Monsoonal Temperate Glaciers in China during the Past Several Decades under the Background of Global Warming

Based on various data, it can be concluded that eight monsoonal temperate glaciers in China were in stationary or advancing between 1900s~1930s and 1960s~1980s, and were in retreating during 1930s~1960s and 1980s~present under the background of climate warming. The total glacier area has reduced by 3.11 km2 with a mean front altitude rise of 3.2 m/yr and 4 glaciers have disappeared in Mt. Yulong during 1957~1999. Mass balance records indicated that glaciers had suffered a constant mass loss of snow and ice during the last several decades, and the accumulated mass balance in Hailuogou basin in Mt. Gongga was ?10.83 m water equivalent in the past 45 years with a annual mean value of -0.24 m, and the value at Baishui glacier No.1 was -11.38 m water equivalent in the past 52 years with -0.22 m/yr. The inverse variation between mass balance and temperature in China and the Northern Hemisphere reflected that climate warming is mainly corresponding to constant ice and snow mass loss in the past 50 years. The change of the glaciers’ surface morphology has occurred since the 1980s, such as enlargement of glacier-lake and ice falls, resulted from the accelrative climate warming.