Global glacial fluctuations in response to climatic change in the past 40 a

Analyses on glacier fluctuations for the past 40 a show that glacial fluctuations were obviously regional over the world. Amplitudes of glacier fluctuations were smaller in northern Europe and high Asia (H Asia) regions than in northern America and the Alps regions. Retreating glaciers were dominant in northern European and high Asia regions, while remarkable glacial advance emerged in different periods in northern America and the Alps regions. Sensitivity of glaciers in the varying scales to climatic change was different. Time lag for reactions to climatic change between larger glaciers (length >5 km) and smaller glaciers (length≤ 5km) has been found. In the globe, glacial fluctuations well correspond to climatic change. Fluctuation lags behind climatic change were about 8 a for larger glaciers and about 2 a for smaller glaciers.

Analyses on glacier fluctuations for the past 40 a show that glacial fluctuations were obviously regional over the world. Amplitudes of glacier fluctuations were smaller in northern Europe and high Asia (H Asia) regions than in northern America and the Alps regions. Retreating glaciers were dominant in northern European and high Asia regions, while remarkable glacial advance emerged in different periods in northern America and the Alps regions. Sensitivity of glaciers in the varying scales to climatic change was different. Time lag for reactions to climatic change between larger glaciers (length >5 km) and smaller glaciers (length≤ 5km) has been found. In the globe, glacial fluctuations well correspond to climatic change. Fluctuation lags behind climatic change were about 8 a for larger glaciers and about 2 a for smaller glaciers.