Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2021-21
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2021-21
19 Mar 2021
 | 19 Mar 2021
Status: this preprint has been withdrawn by the authors.

Spatio-temporal variations in glacier surface velocity in the Himalayas

Yu Zhou, Jianlong Chen, and Xiao Cheng

Abstract. Glacier evolution with time provides important information about climate variability. Here we investigate glacier surface velocity in the Himalayas and analyse the patterns of glacier flow. We collect 220 scenes of Landsat-7 panchromatic images between 1999 and 2000, and Sentinel-2 panchromatic images between 2017 and 2018, to calculate surface velocities of 36,722 glaciers during these two periods. We then derive velocity changes between 1999 and 2018, based on which we perform a detailed analysis of motion of each individual glacier, and noted that the changes are spatially heterogeneous. Of all the glaciers, 32 % have speeded up, 24.5 % have slowed down, and the rest 43.5 % remained stable. The amplitude of glacier slowdown, as a result of glacier mass loss, is remarkably larger than that of speedup. At regional scales, we found that glacier surface velocity in winter has uniformly decreased in the western part of the Himalayas between 1999 and 2018, whilst increased in the eastern part; this contrasting difference may be associated with decadal changes in accumulation and/or melting under different climatic regimes. We also found that the overall trend of surface velocity exhibits seasonal variability: summer velocity changes are positively correlated with mass loss, whereas winter velocity changes show a negative correlation. Our study suggests that glacier velocity changes in the Himalayas are more spatially and temporally heterogeneous than previously thought, emphasising complex interactions between glacier dynamics and environmental forcing.

This preprint has been withdrawn.

Yu Zhou, Jianlong Chen, and Xiao Cheng

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on esurf-2021-21', Anonymous Referee #1, 04 May 2021
  • RC2: 'Comment on esurf-2021-21', Tobias Bolch, 11 Jun 2021

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on esurf-2021-21', Anonymous Referee #1, 04 May 2021
  • RC2: 'Comment on esurf-2021-21', Tobias Bolch, 11 Jun 2021
Yu Zhou, Jianlong Chen, and Xiao Cheng
Yu Zhou, Jianlong Chen, and Xiao Cheng

Viewed

Total article views: 1,166 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total BibTeX EndNote
802 327 37 1,166 25 24
  • HTML: 802
  • PDF: 327
  • XML: 37
  • Total: 1,166
  • BibTeX: 25
  • EndNote: 24
Views and downloads (calculated since 19 Mar 2021)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 19 Mar 2021)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 1,024 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 1,024 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 27 Mar 2024
Download

This preprint has been withdrawn.