kadota_etal_2002.html
Bulletin of Glaciological Research 19 (2002) 37-40
©Japanese Society of Snow and Ice
Some shrinking features in the uppermost ablation area of the Khumbu Glacier, east Nepal, 1995-1999
Tsutomu
KADOTA1, Nozomu
NAITO2 and Howard
CONWAY3
1. Frontier
Observational Research System for Global Change, 3173-25 Showa-machi
Kanazawa-ku Yokohama, 236-0001, Japan
2. Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University,
Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
3. Geophysics Program, Box 351650, University of Washington,
Seattle, WA98195, USA
Abstract
An accelerated surface lowering of the Khumbu Glacier, one of debris-covered glaciers in the Nepal Himalayas, was detected by repeated mappings in the uppermost ablation area of the glacier. The surface lowered at a rate of about 2 m a-1 in 1995-1999 whereas about 1 m a-1 in 1978-1995. Mean ice flow velocity decreased to about 18 m a-1 in 1995-1999 from about 26 m a-1 in 1987-1995. Using ice thickness data and flow velocity in 1999, annual ablation over the respected area was roughly evaluated to be about 3.5 m a-1. This value was almost compatible to the value obtained by in-situ observation in the late 1970s. Decrease of influx of ice from the upglacier was suggested as a possible cause of recent accelerated surface lowering.
