26 Ongoing variations of Himalayan and Karakoram glaciers as witnesses of global changes: recent studies on selected glaciers

摘要: Abstract The glaciers located on the highest Asian mountain ranges (Pamir, Karakoram and Himalaya) represent largest alpine glaciations in world, outside polar regions. Runoff from these feeds rivers (e.g. Indus, Ganges, etc.) that provide much-needed water supply for several hundred million people. In Himalayan regions debris-covered (DCG) are most common glacier type, which seems currently to be spreading world's due feedback between ice thinning rock-wall downwasting. To contribute a better understanding of complex relations DCG climate forecast decadal scale response change its impact runoff high regions, different studies have been carried out some selected (Baltoro Liligo K2 region) Nepal Himalayas (Changri Nup Everest region). quantify recent ongoing fluctuations masses, historical sources, e.g. maps photographs, satellite images processed analysed. addition, direct field measurements were performed order validate remotely sensed data investigate variability magnitude surface ablation tongues.