Based on the glacier mass balance and meteorological data of air temperature and precipitation on the Qiyi Glacier from June 30 to September 5, 2010, we used a degree-day mass balance model to simulate the change of mass balance during this period. Our results indicate that the current value of the mass balance is -856.2 mm w.e. Subjected to the strong influences of air temperature and precipitation, the mass balance process can be divided into three stages： accumulating exiguously ~ melting intensively melting exiguously. The variation trends of the mass balance according to the degree-day mass balance model and the observed values are similar and wholly reflect the spatial distribution characteristics of the glacier mass balance, which increases with the increase of altitude. Our experiment on climate sensitivity of the mass balance showed that mass balance was very sensitive to the change of temperature; air temperature is the key factor which influences mass balance; and a slight increase in precipitation will have a negligible effect on mass balance when the air temperature increases continuously.
We report on the concentration and compositional features of n-alkanes of natural and anthropogenic origins in the snow samples collected from the Qiyi glacier in the Qilian Mountains, the Yuzhufeng glacier in eastern Kunlun Mountains, the Xiaodongkemadi glacier in the Tanggula Mountains, and the Gurenhekou glacier in the Nyainqêntanglha Range. The results indicate a decrease in the total n-alkane concentration (T-HCs) from the northeast to the south over the Tibetan Plateau. The T-HCs in these studied areas were close to those in the Belukha and Sofiyskiy glacier, Russian Alati Mountains and the Dasuopu glacier in the Himalaya but were much higher than those in the Greenland ice sheet, suggesting that the mountain glaciers in the Asian continent may receive a higher loading of n-alkanes than the Greenland ice core. Moreover, the compositional characteristics of n-alkanes indicated that the n-alkanes in the studied areas were probably originated from the plant waxes as well as the fossil-fuel combustion exhaust, whereas the contribution from the lower organisms was small. In addition, the plant wax (Cn(wax)) and anthropogenic (non-Cn(wax)) contributions revealed that fast industrialization may have significant effects on the organic pollutant composition in glacier over the Tibetan Plateau and its circumference environment. Particularly, except for the Yuzhufeng glacier, the ΣnC21-/ΣnC22+ and (nC15+nC17+nC19)/(nC27+nC29+nC31) ratio decreased from the Qiyi glacier to the Gurenhekou glacier over the Tibetan Plateau, while the carbon preference index (CPI) values increased. These results indicate a decrease in terrigenous input while an increase in marine input from the northeast to the south over the Tibetan Plateau. These two ratios can be used as the climatic and environmental change indicators.
LI QuanLianWANG NingLianWU XiaoBoPU JianChenHE JianQiaoXIE Jun
The contents and distribution characteristics of ions, n-alkanes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in snow pits on the Yuzhufcng （YZF） Glacier and the Xiao Dongkernadi （XDKMD） Glacier are studied. Parameter characteristics and correlation coefficients between ions and two organic compounds are used to explore the possible sources of these chemical compositions. The results indicated that both glaciers are influenced by west wind circulation, but the contents of ions, n-alkanes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the YZF Glacier are higher than in the XDKMD Glacier because of differences in geographical position. The ratios of ∑nC21^-/∑nC22^＋ and CPI values （CPI： carbon preference index） indicate that the n-alkanes from natural sources in these two glaciers are mainly derived from higher plants, whereas the contribution from lower organisms was small, also, n-alkanes from anthropogenic sources in the YZF Glacier are higher than in the XDKMD Glacier. The ratios of LPAHs/HPAHs and （Fly＋Pyr）/（BghiP＋INP） indicate that the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in these two glaciers are mainly derived from low temperature combustion of coal and biomass, and, in the XDKMD Glacier, partially from the vehicle exhaust.
Twenty snow samples were collected from the Qiyi glacier in Qilian Mountains,the Yuzhufeng glacier in eastern Kunlun Mountains,the Xiaodongkemadi glacier in Tanggula Mountains,and the Gurenhekou glacier in Nyainqêntanglha Range over the Tibetan Plateau.The concentration and distribution features of sixteen priority Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined by gas chromatography equipped with a mass spectrometry detector (GC-MS).The sources of these PAHs were explored as well.Our results indicated that the average concentrations of PAHs in snow were in the range of 20.45 60.57 ng/L.Maximum PAHs levels were found in the YZF glacier andminimum in the XDKMD glacier.However,no apparent regional distribution pattern of PAHs was found in the glaciers over the Tibetan Plateau.Moreover,the 2 4 ring low molecular weight PAHs predominated in snow samples and the concentrations of phenanthrene was the highest.Integrated factor analysis and isomer pair ratios suggested that PAHs of glaciers over the Tibetan Plateau were derived from low temperature combustion of coal and biomass,and partially from the exhaust gas of locomotives.Air mass back trajectory indicated that organic compounds detected in snowpit of these four glaciers,in the period of time they represented,mainly came from Central Asia and the arid area of Northwest China by westerly wind circulation.
LI QuanLianWANG NingLianWU XiaoBoPU JianChenHE JianQiaoZHANG ChunWen
