Glacier Changes in the Lancang River Basin, China, between 1968–1975 and 2005–2010

The Lancang River Basin (LRB) crosses from the higher inland Tibet Plateau to lower south Asia. Glaciers in upper reaches of the basin are significant reservoirs of freshwater and are considered to contribute substantially to the runoff of the Lancang River. In this study, we present the results of glacier inventories of the LRB and demonstrate its changes during the past 40 years, based on investigations conducted during two periods: the first (1968–1975) and the second (2005–2010) glacier inventory of China. Total area of the 423 measured glaciers in the LRB decreased by 98.50 ± 26.61 km2 from 328.16 ± 20.29 km2 in 1968–1975 to 229.66 ± 16.48 km2 in 2005–2010, indicating a loss in total glacier area of about 30% ± 8% during the past 40 years (at a mean area loss rate of 0.75% ± 0.2% a-1), which is comparable to glacier changes in other regions of high Asia. Southern glaciers in the LRB have experienced greater area loss than the northern inland Tibet regions, indicating more sensitivity of temp...