Direct measurement of glacier thinning on the Southern Tibetan Plateau (Gurenhekou, Kangwure and Naimona'Nyi glaciers)

Abstract

Numerous studies have confirmed the rapid retreat of Tibetan Plateau glaciers in recent decades, and resulting reductions in glacier volume. However, high-resolution determinations of the changes in glacier thickness remain sparse. This paper presents results based on differential GPS measurements to accurately measure glacier thickness change over the past few years. Measurements from the lower part of Gurenhekou glacier show an average thickness change of -3.82m over a 4 year period. On the lower part of Kangwure glacier we measured an average thickness change of -2.70m over 3 years. On the upper part of Naimona'Nyi glacier (northern branch), western Himalaya, thickness changed by -1.34m on average between 2008 and 2010, and -0.87m between 2010 and 2013. Large temporal changes in thinning rates were found on Naimona'Nyi glacier, due to variations in local precipitation. Our measurements also show variable changes in glacier thickness over different parts of each glacier, with little dependence on elevation. The limited data also show glacier thinning in the accumulation zone.