Hydrochemical Characteristics and Solute Dynamics of Meltwater Runoff of Urumqi Glacier No.1,Eastern Tianshan,Northwest China

Hydrochemical characteristics and solute dynamics of bulk meltwater draining from Urumqi Glacier No.1 were investigated in years 2006 and 2007.The glacial meltwater was slightly alkaline with the mean pH of 7.64 and 7.61 in 2006 and 2007,respectively.In the meltwater,the dominant anions were the bicarbonate and sulphate,and the dominant cation was calcium.The concentration of major cations were varied as c(Ca2+) > c(Mg2+) > c(K+) > c(Na+),while the order for the cations was c(HCO3) > c(SO42) > c(NO3) > c(Cl).The total dissolved solids(TDS) in meltwater had inverse relationships with the diurnal discharge.The major ion composition of meltwater was mainly controlled by rock weathering as inferred from the Gibbs model.Furthermore,the ion ratios and Piper diagram indicated that the main processes controlling the meltwater chemistry were carbonate weathering,pyrite weathering and feldspar weathering in rocks,and Ca2+ and HCO3 were the dominant ions during the carbonate weathering process.Solute flux calculation at Glacier No.1 station suggested that chemical denudation rates were 11.46 and 13.90 ton.km 2.yr 1 in 2006 and 2007,respectively.

Ice Surface-Elevation Change and Velocity of Qingbingtan Glacier No.72 in the Tomor Region,Tianshan Mountains,Central Asia

Glaciers in the Tomor region of Tianshan Mountains preserve vital water resources.However,these glaciers suffer from strong mass losses in the recent years because of global warming.From 2008 to 2009,a large-scale scientific expedition has been carried out in this region.As an individual reference glacier,the tongue area of Qingbingtan glacier No.72 was measured by the high precise Real Time Kinematic-Global Position System (RTK-GPS).In this paper,changes of the tongue area of Qingbingtan glacier No.72 has been studied based on topographic map,remote sensing image and the survey during 2008-2009 field campaign.Results indicated that the ice surface-elevation of the tongue area changed-0.22±0.14 m a-1 from 1964 to 2008.The estimated loss in ice volume was 0.014±0.009 km3,which represented a ～20 % decrease from the 1964 volume and was equivalent to average annual mass balance of-0.20±0.12 m water equivalent for the tongue area during 1964-2008.Terminus retreated by 1852 m,approximately 41 m a-1,with the area reduction of 1.533 km2 (0.034 km2 a-1) from 1964 to 2009.Furthermore,the annual velocity reached to ～70 m a-1.Comparing with the other monitored glaciers in the eastern Tianshan Mountains,Qingbingtan glacier No.72 experienced more intensive in shrinkage,which resulted from the combined effects of climate change and glacier dynamic,providing evidence of the response to climatic warming.

Chemical Characteristics and Environmental Significance of Fresh Snow Deposition on Urumqi Glacier No.1 of Tianshan Mountains, China

Ice and snow chemistry of alpine glaciers is crucial for the research of regional atmospheric environment change. Fresh snow samples were weekly collected from Urumqi Glacier No.1 in the Tianshan Mountains, Xin- jiang, China, and the chemical characteristics and seasonal variations of major ions, mineral dust, δ18O and trace metals were measured. Results show that the concentrations of major ions in the snow are Ca2+ > SO42-> NH4+ > NO3-> Cl-> Na+ > Mg2+ > K+, in which Ca2+ is the dominant cation, and SO42-is the dominant anion. All major ions have close positive correlations with each other except NO3-. δ18O shows positive correlation with air temperature change during the study period. Mineral dust particle and major ionic concentrations in fresh snow have obvious seasonal change, with high concentration in spring but low concentration in summer and autumn, which indicates that the chemical mass input from Asian dust activity to snow is very significant. Temporal changes of trace metals in fresh snow, e.g., Cd, Pb, Zn, Al, Fe, have shown that human-induced pollution of central Asian region also has large contribution to the snow chemistry on alpine glaciers of the Tianshan Mountains.

The transport of chemical components in homogeneous snowpacks on Urumqi Glacier No.1, eastern Tianshan Mountains, Central Asia

Chemical records from alpine ice cores provide an invaluable source of paleoclimatic and environ- mental information. Not only the atmospheric chemical composition but also depositional and post-depositional processes are recorded within snow/tim strata. To interpret the environmental and climatic significance of ice core records, we studied the variability of glacier snowpack chemistry by investigating homogeneous snowpacks from October 2003 to September 2006 on Urumqi Glacier No. 1 in eastern Tianshan Mountains, Central Asia. Principle Component Analysis of ionic species in dry and wet seasons revealed the impact of meltwater in redistributing ions in the snowpacks. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd principle components for dry seasons differ significantly, reflecting complex associations between depositional or/and post-depositional processes. The variability trend of ionic concentrations during the wet seasons was found to fit a Gauss Function with significant parameters. The elution factor revealed that more than half of ions are leached out during the wet seasons. Differences with respect to ion snowpack mo- bility were found. Of the ions studied SO42- was the most mobile and Mg2＋ the least mobile. A threshold relationship between air temperatures and the elution process was investigated over the study period. The results indicate that the strong melt/ablation processes and iconic redistribution occur at a threshold air temperature of 0℃. The study found that surface melt on the snowpacks is the main factor causing the alteration of the snowpack chemistry. Rainfall also has an impact on the chemistry but plays a less significant role than the surface melt.

Isotopic evidence for the moisture origin and influencing factors at Urumqi Glacier No.1 in upstream Urumqi River Basin, eastern Tianshan Mountains

The stable isotope has been extensively applied as an effective tracer especially in precipitation. In glacierized area of arid northwest China, temperature is widely considered to be a major factor affecting isotopes in precipitation, while the influences of precipitation amount, relative humidity and other meteorological parameters are still not clear. Based on analyses on stable isotope values of water samples and NCEP/NCAR(National Centers of Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research, USA) re-analysis data, the moisture source and characteristics of isotopes in the precipitation, meltwater and river water isotopes at Urumqi Glacier No.1 of the upstream Urumqi River Basin, eastern Tianshan Mountains from spring to autumn during four years(from 2008 to 2011) was studied. Results indicated that meltwater are the main source of water for the upper Urumqi River. Seasonal variation of δ18 O in precipitation demonstrated that δ18 O was more enriched in summer and depleted in spring and autumn. Temperature was positively correlated with isotopes, while precipitation amount and relative humidity was negatively correlated with isotopes. The water vapor was affected by westerly air mass and regional water vapor cycle. Meanwhile, back trajectory clustering analyses showed that the moisture mainly from Europe and central Asia. The moisture was more likely to be locally sourced with the ratio was 46.8%~52.1%.

60-year changes and mechanisms of Urumqi Glacier No.1 in the eastern Tianshan of China,Central Asia

Worldwide examination of glacier change is based on detailed observations from only a small number of glaciers.The ground-based detailed individual glacier monitoring is of strong need and extremely important in both regional and global scales.A long-term integrated multi-level monitoring has been carried out on Urumqi Glacier No.1(UG1)at the headwaters of the Urumqi River in the eastern Tianshan Mountains of Central Asia since 1959 by the Tianshan Glaciological Station,Chinese Acamedey of Sciences(CAS),and the glaciological datasets promise to be the best in China.The boundaries of all glacier zones moved up,resulting in a shrunk accumulation area.The stratigraphy features of the snowpack on the glacier were found to be significantly altered by climate warming.Mass balances of UG1 show accelerated mass loss since 1960,which were attributed to three mechanisms.The glacier has been contracting at an accelerated rate since 1962,resulting in a total reduction of 0.37 km2 or 19.3%from 1962 to 2018.Glacier runoff measured at the UG1 hydrometeorological station demonstrates a significant increase from 1959 to 2018 with a large interannual fluctuation,which is inversely correlated with the glacier's mass balance.This study analyzes on the changes in glacier zones,mass balance,area and length,and streamflow in the nival glacial catchment over the past 60 years.It provides critical insight into the processes and mechanisms of glacier recession in response to climate change.The results are not only representative of those glaciers in the Tianshan mountains,but also for the continental-type throughout the world.The direct observation data form an essential basis for evaluating mountain glacier changes and the impact of glacier shrinkage on water resources in the interior drainage rivers within the vast arid and semi-arid land in northwestern China as well as Central Asia.

Spatial variability of glacial changes and their effects on water resources in the Chinese Tianshan Mountains during the last five decades

Changes in glaciers in the Chinese Tianshan Mountains have been analyzed previously. However, most previous studies focused on individual glaciers and/or decentralized glacial basins. Moreover, a majority of these studies were published only in Chinese, which limited their usefulness at the international level. With this in mind, the authors reviewed the previous studies to create an overview of glacial changes in the Chinese Tianshan Mountains over the last five decades and discussed the effects of glacial changes on water resources. In response to climate change, glaciers in the Tianshan Mountains are shrinking rapidly and are ca. 20% smaller on average in the past five decades. Overall, the area reduction of glacial basins in the central part of the Chinese Tianshan Mountains is larger than that in the eastern and western parts. The spatial differentiation in glacial changes are caused by both differences in regional climate and in glacial factors. The effects of glacial changes on water resources vary in different river basins due to the differences in glacier distribution, characteristics of glacial change and proportion of the glacier meltwater in river runoff.

Glacier mass balance and its impacts on streamflow in a typical inland river basin in the Tianshan Mountains, northwestern China

Glaciers are known as natural ’’solid reservoirs’ ’, and they play a dual role between the composition of water resources and the river runoff regulation in arid and semi-arid areas of China. In this study, we used in situ observation data from Urumqi Glacier No. 1, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in combination with meteorological data from stations and a digital elevation model, to develop a distributed degree-day model for glaciers in the Urumqi River Basin to simulate glacier mass balance processes and quantify their effect on streamflow during 1980–2020. The results indicate that the mass loss and the equilibrium line altitude(ELA) of glaciers in the last 41 years had an increasing trend, with the average mass balance and ELA being-0.85(±0.32) m w.e./a(meter water-equivalent per year) and 4188 m a.s.l., respectively. The glacier mass loss has increased significantly during 1999–2020, mostly due to the increase in temperature and the extension of ablation season. During 1980–2011, the average annual glacier meltwater runoff in the Urumqi River Basin was 0.48×108 m3, accounting for 18.56% of the total streamflow. We found that the annual streamflow in different catchments in the Urumqi River Basin had a strong response to the changes in glacier mass balance, especially from July to August, and the glacier meltwater runoff increased significantly. In summary, it is quite possible that the results of this research can provide a reference for the study of glacier water resources in glacier-recharged basins in arid and semi-arid areas.

Comparative study on observed mass balance between East and West Branch of Urumqi Glacier No. 1, Eastern Tianshan, China

This paper is based on observed mass balance between East and West Branch of Urumqi Glacier No. l, meteorological data dur- ing 1988-2010, comparative studies the mass balance variations, and analyses the mass balance sensitivity to climate change. Re- sults show that average mass balance of East and West Branch was -532 mm/a and 435 mm/a, cumulative mass balance was 12,227 mm （ice thinned by 13.6 m） and -10,001 mm （ice thinned by 11.1 m）, respectively, and mass loss of East Branch was 97 mm/a larger than West Branch. The East and West Branch ELA （equilibrium line altitude） ascended about 176 m and 154 m, analysis shows the steady-state ELA0 was 3,942 m a.s.1, and 4,011 m a.s.1., and when East and West Branch mass balance de- creased by 100 ram, ELA ascended 20 m and 23 m, respectively. The AAR （accumulation area ratio） of East and West Branch presented an obviously decreasing trend of 34.5% and 23%, equilibrium-state AAR0 was 65% and 66%, when East and West Branch mass balance increased by 100 mm, AAR ascended 4.6% and 4.2%, respectively. Glacier mass balance was sensitive to change of net ablation, net ablation of East and West Branch increased 10x 104 m3, and mass balance decreased 110 mm and 214 mm, respectively. By analyzing mass balance sensitivity to climate change, results suggest that East and West Branch mass bal- ance decreased （increased） 463 mm and 388 mm when ablation period temperature increased （decreased） by 1 ~C, East and West Branch mass balance increased （decreased） 140 mm and 158 mm when annual precipitation increased （decreased） by 100 mm, and sensitivity of East Branch mass balance to climate change was more intense than that of West Branch.

Climate change and water security in the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains

Water security is under threat worldwide from climate change. A warming climate would accelerate evaporationand cryosphere melting, leading to reduced water availability and unpredictable water supply. However, thewater crisis in the Northern Slope of Tianshan Mountains(NSTM) faces dual challenges because water demandsforfast-growing urban areas have put heavy pressure on water resources. The mountain-oasis-desert system featuresglacier-fed rivers that sustain intensive water use in the oasis and end in the desert as fragile terminal lakes.The complex balance between water conservation and economic development is subtle. This paper investigateschanges in hydroclimatic variables and water security-related issues on the NSTM. The spatiotemporal variationsin glaciers, climatic variables, rivers, lakes and reservoirs, groundwater, surface water, human water use, andstreamflow were analyzed for the past four decades. The results show that temperature in the NSTM exhibitedan apparent upward trend with a more significant warming rate in the higher altitude regions. Glacier massloss and shrinkage was strong. The average annual streamflow increased from 1980-1989 to 2006–2011 at mosthydrological stations. The monthly dynamics of surface water area showed notable variability at both inter-annual and seasonal scales, revealing the impacts of both natural and anthropogenic drivers on surface wateravailability in the region. The terrestrial water storage anomaly showed a decreasing trend, which might berelated to groundwater pumping for irrigation. Human water use for agriculture and industry grew with theincrease in cultivated land area and gross domestic product (GDP). The increased agricultural water use wasstrongly associated with the expansion of oases. It is unclear whether water availability would remain high underfuture climatic and hydrological uncertainties, posing challenges to water management. In the context of rapidurban growth and climate change, balancing water for humans and nature is vital in achieving the SustainableDevelopment Goals (SDGs) in NSTM. This study provides a baseline understanding of the interplay among water,climate change, and socio-economic development in NSTM. It would also shed light on wise water managementunder environmental changes for other rapidly developing mountain-oasis-desert systems worldwide.

Multi-decadal variations in glacier flow velocity and the influencing factors of Urumqi Glacier No.1 in Tianshan Mountains, Northwest China

Urumqi Glacier No. 1 is a representative glacier in the inland areas of Central Asia and is the only Chinese reference glacier in the World Glacier Monitoring Service. In this study, we explored multi-decadal variations in the flow velocity of the glacier and the influencing factors based on continuous field observations and path coefficient analysis. Results show that the glacier flow velocity decreased from 5.5 m/a in 1980/1981 to 3.3 m/a in 2010/2011. The annual variation in the direction of glacier flow velocity in the western branch and eastern branch was less than 1°–3°, and the change of glacier flow velocity in the western branch was more dramatic than that in the eastern branch. Glacier flow velocity was influenced by glacier morphology（including glacier area, glacier length, and ice thickness）, glacier mass balance and local climate conditions（air temperature and precipitation）, the glacier morphology being the leading factor. The long-term flow velocity data set of Urumqi Glacier No. 1 contributes to a better understanding of glacier dynamics within the context of climatic warming.

Influence of Sub-Cloud Secondary Evaporation Effects on the Stable Isotopes in Precipitation of Urumqi Glacier No.1,Eastern Tianshan

In arid regions,the stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopic composition in raindrops is often modified by sub-cloud secondary evaporation when they descend from cloud base to ground through the unsaturated air.As a result of kinetic fractionation,the slope and intercept of the δ^(2)H-δ^(18)O correlation equation decrease.The variation of deuterium excess from cloud base to the ground is often used to quantitatively evaluate the influence of secondary evaporation effect on isotopes in precipitation.Based on the event-based precipitation samples collected at Urumqi Glacier No.1,eastern Tianshan during four-year observation,the existence and impact of secondary evaporation effects were analyzed by the methods of isotope-evaporation model.Under high air temperature,small raindrop diameter and precipitation amount,and low relative humidity conditions,the remaining rate of raindrops is small and the change of deuterium excess is large relatively,and the slope and intercept of δ^(2)H-δ^(18)O correlation equation are much lower than those of Global Meteoric Water Line,which mean that the influence secondary evaporation on precipitation enhanced.While on the conditions of low air temperature,high relative humidity,heavy rainfall,and large raindrop diameter,the change of deuterium excess is small relatively and the remaining rate of raindrops is large,and the slope and intercept of δ^(2)H-δ^(18)O correlation equation increase,the secondary evaporation is weakened.The isotope-evaporation model described a good linear correlation between changes of deuterium excess and evaporation proportion with the slope of 0.90‰/%,which indicated that an increase of 1%in evaporation may result in a decrease of deuterium excess about 0.90‰.

The processes and characteristics of mass balance on the Urumqi Glacier No. 1 during 1958-2009

As a solid reservoir, a glacier can regulate regional water resources. The annual net mass balance directly reflects the fluctuation of the glacier and climate variability. Based on 51 years of mass balance observation data, the mass balance of Tianshan Mountains Urumqi Glacier No. 1 experienced a nine times positive balance fluctuation and nine times negative balance fluctuation. There were 35 and 16 negative and positive balance years, respectively. From 1996/97 to 2008/09, 12 consecutive negative balance years were observed at Tianshan Mountains Urumqi Glacier No. 1. These results demon- strate that the Urumqi Glacier No. 1 is experiencing a strong negative balance, and the strongest negative balance, -931 mm w.e. （mm water equivalent）, during the observation period occurred in 2008. In addition, the cumulative mass balance reached 13,709 mm w.e. in 2008. However, in 2009, the mass balance was positive at 63 mm w.e. The equilibrium-line al- titude changes with the fluctuation in the mass balance, and the effective mass balance gradient is 7.4 mrn/m. In this paper, the headwaters of the Urumqi River were analyzed using meteorological data from 1958 to 2009, including the average seasonal temperature and precipitation. The results showed that the main factor associated with the mass balance variation of Glacier No. 1 is the fluctuation in the summer air temperature, followed by changes in the precipitation.

Region-wide glacier area and mass budgets for the Shaksgam River Basin,Karakoram Mountains,during 2000–2016

The Karakoram Mountains are well known for their widespread surge-type glaciers and slight glacier mass gains.On the one hand,glaciers are one of the sensitive indicators of climate change,their area and thickness will adjust with climate change.On the other hand,glaciers provide freshwater resources for agricultural irrigation and hydroelectric generation in the downstream areas of the Shaksgam River Basin(SRB)in western China.The shrinkage of glaciers caused by climate change can significantly affect the security and sustainable development of regional water resources.In this study,we analyzed the changes in glacier area from 2000 to 2016 in the SRB using Landsat TM(Thematic Mapper)/ETM+(Enhanced Mapper Plus)/OLI(Operational Land Imager)images.It is shown that the SRB contained 472 glaciers,with an area of 1840.3 km2,in 2016.The glacier area decreased by 0.14%/a since 2000,and the shrinkage of glacier in the southeast,east and south directions were the most,while the northeast,north directions were the least.Debris-covered area accounted for 8.0%of the total glacier area.We estimated elevation and mass changes using the 1 arc-second SRTM(Shuttle Radar Topography Mission)DEM(Digital Elevation Model)(2000)and the resolution of 8 m HMA(High Mountain Asia)DEM(2016).An average thickness of 0.08(±0.03)m/a,or a slight mass increase of 0.06(±0.02)m w.e./a has been obtained since 2000.We found thinning was significantly lesser on the clean ice than the debris-covered ice.In addition,the elevation of glacier surface is spatially heterogeneous,showing that the accumulation of mass is dominant in high altitude regions,and the main mass loss is in low altitude regions,excluding the surge-type glacier.For surge-type glaciers,the mass may transfer from the reservoir to the receiving area rapidly when surges,then resulting in an advance of glacier terminus.The main surge mechanism is still unclear,it is worth noting that the surge did not increase the glacier mass in this study.

Stable isotope in precipitation in China:A review

The isotope ratios in precipitation are associated with various meteorological processes and display obvious spatial and temporal distributions, and thus can be used as impo~_nt techniques in inversing atmospheric processes, tracing vapor sources, and reflect- ing the local weather and climate conditions. The composition and distribution of stable isotopes in precipitation in China are summarized and the factors that influence isotope ratios are elucidated. An overview of related research progress in China during the past several decades is presented and the prospects for future work in this subject area are described.

Ice thickness distribution and volume estimation of Burqin Glacier No.18 in the Chinese Altay Mountains

Information on the thickness distribution and volume of glacier ice is highly important for glaciological applications;however,detailed measurements of the ice thickness of many glaciers in the Chinese Altay Mountains remain lacking.Burqin Glacier No.18 is a northeast-orientated cirque glacier located on the southern side of the Altay Mountains.This study used PulseEKKO®PRO 100A enhancement ground-penetrating radar(GPR)to survey the ice thickness and volume of Burqin Glacier No.18 in summer 2018.Together with GPR surveying,spatial distributed profiles of the GPR measurements were concurrently surveyed using the real-time kinematic(RTK)global navigation satellite system(GNSS,Unistrong E650).Besides,we used QuickBird,WorldView-2,and Landsat TM to delineate accurate boundary of the glacier for undertaking estimation of glacier ice volume.GPR measurements revealed that the basal topography of profile B1-B2 was flat,the basal topography of profile C1-C2 presented a V-type form,and the basal topography of profile D1-D2 had a typical U-type topographic feature because the bedrock near the central elevation of the glacier was relatively flat.The longitudinal profile A1-A2 showed a ladder-like distribution.Glacier ice was thin at the terminus and its thickness increased gradually from the elevation of approximately 2620 m a.s.l.along the main axis of the glacier tongue with an average value of 80(±1)m.The average ice thickness of the glacier was determined as 27(±2)m and its total ice volume was estimated at 0.031(±0.002)km3.Interpretation of remote sensing images indicated that during 1989–2016,the glacier area reduced from 1.30 to 1.17 km2(reduction of 0.37%/a)and the glacier terminus retreated at the rate of 8.48 m/a.The mean ice thickness of Burqin Glacier No.18 was less than that of the majority of other observed glaciers in China,especially those in the Qilian Mountains and Central Chinese Tianshan Mountains;this is probably attributable to differences in glacier type and climatic setting.

Primary investigation of statistical correlation between changes in ice volume and area of glaciers

This study makes an attempt to investigate through statistical analysis the correlation between changes in ice volume and area of glaciers. Using data from nine sample glaciers in the Tian Shan, the results show that a linear relation exists between changes in ice volume and area, with a correlation coefficient of 0.700. However, the accuracy estimation is difficult due to the limited number of samples. The correlation was not improved after adding eleven glacier samples in other mountains. Two reference glaciers are then analyzed in more detail. The linear correlation coefficient is higher than 0.800 when using the observed changes in ice volume and area during different periods on Urumqi Glacier No. 1, which suggests that the linear relation is valid for one glacier for different periods if its shape does not change noticeably and also for other glaciers of the same shape during the same period. The relation between changes in ice volume and area of Qingbingtan Glacier No. 72 is different during different periods due to change in the shape of the glacier tongue and the influence of the debris cover. Moreover, errors in glacier-change monitoring and-volume estimation have an important influence on the correlation results. Therefore, further study needs to focus not only on the distinction between glacier types and between different periods but also on the accuracy of volume estimation.

Spatial and temporal transferability of Degree-Day Model and Simplified Energy Balance Model:a case study

Glacier mass balance, the difference between accumulation and ablation at the glacier surface, is the direct reflection of the local climate regime. Under global warming, the simulation of glacier mass balance at the regional scale has attracted increasing interests. This study selects Urumqi Glacier No. 1 as the testbed for examining the transferability in space and time of two commonly used glacier mass balance simulation models: i.e., the Degree-Day Model(DDM) and the simplified Energy Balance Model(s EBM). Four experiments were carried out for assessing both models’ temporal and spatial transferability. The results show that the spatial transferability of both the DDM and s EBM is strong, whereas the temporal transferability of the DDM is relatively weak. For all four experiments, the overall simulation effect of the s EBM is better than that of the DDM. At the zone around Equilibrium Line Altitude(ELA), the DDM performed better than the s EBM.Also, the accuracy of parameters, including the lapse rate of air temperature and vertical gradient of precipitation at the glacier surface, is of great significance for improving the spatial transferability of both models.

Characteristics and source of aerosols at Shiyi Glacier,Qilian Mountains, China

Aerosol samples were collected in the Shiyi Glacier, Qilian Mountains from July 24 to August 19, 2012 and analyzed for major water-soluble ionic species(F-, Cl-, NO2-, NO3-, SO42-, Na+, NH4+, K+, Mg2+and Ca2+) by ion chromatography. SO42-and NH4+were the most abundant components of all the anions and cations, with average concentrations of 94.72 and 54.26 neq/m3, respectively, accounting for 34% and 20% of the total water-soluble ions analyzed. These mean ion concentrations were generally comparable with the background conditions in remote sites of the Qilian Mountains, but were much lower than those in certain cities in China. The particles were grouped into two dominant types according to their morphology and EDX signal: Si-rich particles and Fe-rich particles. Backward air mass trajectory analysis suggested that inland cities may contribute some anthropogenic pollution to this glacier, while the arid and semi-arid regions of central Asia were the primary sources of the mineral particles.

Editorial for the special issue in memoriam to Prof.Xie Zichu

Prof.Xie Zichu passed away on January 25,2020 in Changsha,Hunan Province,China at the age of 83 years old.Being one of the internationally renowned and highly respected glaciologists of China,this issue is dedicated with all respect in memory of him for his life-long effort and contribution to advance studies on glaciology in China.He has undertaken field investigations on glacier mass balance.