Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Annual thawing and freezing indices changes in the China Tianshan Mountains

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Regional Environmental Change Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Annual thawing/freezing indices (TIs and FIs) for ten meteorological stations in the China Tianshan Mountains (CTM) are analyzed based on the daily maximum and minimum temperature records during 1961–2010. These indices are submitted for trend analysis and change-point analysis. The correlations between the TIs and FIs and the annual mass balance (AMB) for the No. 1 glacier, a rapid regressing small-scale glacier with the solely longest observed time series of the AMB at the headwater of the Urumqi River in the CTM, were analyzed in order to demonstrate the implication behind variations in the TIs and FIs. Furthermore, to explain atmospheric controls of the TI and FI variations, correlations between large-scale climatic forcing, e.g., the mean NAO indices and the mean Arctic Oscillation (AO) and the TIs and the FIs were analyzed. The results show that there were obvious upward trends in the TIs and downward trends in the FIs occurred, which demonstrates an increasing thawing and decreasing freezing potential in the CTM during the period of 1961–2010. Change-point analysis revealed evident change point around the year 1997 for the TIs at most of the stations, while various change points for the FIs. Obvious negative relationships between the TIs and the AMB for the No. 1 glacier have been found. Also, significant change point around the year 1996/1997 has been detected for the AMB time series. The revealed tight links between the TIs and the AMB, and also temporal consistency of change points indicates that changes in the TIs could be one of the main factors resulted in changes in the AMB of No. 1 glacier. Furthermore, significant negative correlation between the TIs and FIs and the mean summer NAO index for most stations are also found, demonstrating that the variations in TIs and FIs in the CTM were possibly related with changes in NAO.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aizen VB, Aizen EM, Melack JM, Dozier J (1997) Climatic and Hydrologic Changes in the Tien Shan, Central Asia. J Clim 10:1393–1404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aizen VB, Kuzmichenok VA, Surazakov AB, Aizen EM (2007) Glacier changes in the Tien Shan as determined from topographic and remotely sensed data. Glob Planet Change 56:328–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beniston M (1997) Variations of snow depth and duration in the Swiss Alps over the last 50 years: link to changes in the large-scale climatic forcings. Clim Change 36:281–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beniston M (2003) Climatic change in mountain regions: a review of possible impacts. Clim Change 59:5–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolch T (2007) Climate change and glacier retreat in northern Tien Shan (Kazakhstan/Kyrgyzstan) using remote sensing data. Glob Planet Change 56(1–2):1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen R, Kang E, Ji X, Yang J, Yang Y (2006) Cold regions in China. Cold Reg Sci Technol 45:95–102

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng G, Jiang H, Wang K (2003) Thawing index and freezing index on the embankment surface in permafrost regions. J Glaciol Geocryol 25(6):603–607 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Croitoru A, Drignei D, Holobaca I, Dragota C (2012) Change-point analysis for serially correlated summit temperatures in the Romanian Carpathians. Theor Appl Climatol 108:9–18. doi:10.1007/s00704-011-0508-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • del Rio S, Iqbal M, Cano-ortiz A, Herrero L, Hassan A, Penas A (2012) Recent mean temperature trends in Pakistan and links with teleconnection patterns. Int J Climatol. doi:10.1002/joc.3423

    Google Scholar 

  • Easterling D, Horton B, Jones P, Peterson T, Karl T, Parker D, Salinger M, Razuvayev V, Plumer N, Jamason P, Foland C (1997) Maximum and minimum temperature trends for the globe. Science 277:364–367

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feng S, Hu Q, Qian W (2004) Quality control of daily meteorological data in China, 1951–2000: a new dataset. Int J Climatol 24:853–870. doi:10.1002/joc.1047

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fischer T, Gemmer M, Liu L, Su B (2011) Change-points in climate extremes in the Zhujiang River Basin, South China, 1961–2007. Clim Change. doi:10.1007/s10584-011-0123-8

    Google Scholar 

  • Frauenfeld OW, Zhang T, Mccreight JL (2007) Northern hemisphere freezing/thawing index variations over the twentieth century. Int J Climatol 27:47–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao R, Wei Z, Dong W (2003) Interannual variation of the beginning date and the ending date of soil freezing in the Tibetan plateau. J Glaciol Geocryol 25(1):49–54 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gong D, Wang S, Zhu J (2004) Arctic oscillation influence on daily temperature variance in winter over China. Chin Sci Bull 49(6):637–642

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Han T, Ding Y, Ye B, Liu S, Jiao K (2006) Mass-balance characteristics of Urumqi glacier No. 1, Tien Shan, China. Ann Glaciol 43:323–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hatzaki M, Flocas H, Asimakopoulos D, Maheras P (2007) The eastern Mediterranean teleconnection pattern: identification and definition. Int J Climatol 27(6):727–737

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoelzle M, Chinn T, Stumm D, Paul F, Zemp M, Haeberli W (2007) The application of glacier inventory data for estimating past climate change effects on mountain glaciers: a comparison between the European Alps and the Southern Alps of New Zealand. Global Planet Change 56(1–2):69–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Houghton J, Ding Y (eds) (2001) Climate Change 2000. The Scientific Basis. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu R (ed) (2004) Physical geography of the Tianshan Mountain in China. China Environmental Science Press, Beijing (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu R, Ma H, Fan Z, Yang Q, Wu S, Huang Y (2002a) Response of water resources to climate change in Xinjiang. J Nat Resour 17(1):22–26 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu R, Jiang F, Wang Y (2002b) Signal and impact of climatic shift from warm-dry to warm-wet in Xinjiang. Arid land Geography 25(3):194–200 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurrell J (1995) Decadal trends in the North-Atlantic Oscillation- regional temperatures and precipitation. Science 269(5224):676–679

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hurrell J, Van Loon H (1997) Decadal variations in climate association with the North Atlantic Oscillation. Clim Change 36(3):301–326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2007) The fourth assessment report: climate change 2007. Cambridge University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang F, Zhu C, Mu G, Hu R, Meng Q (2005) Magnification of flood disasters and its relation to regional precipitation and local human activities since the 1980s in Xinjiang, Northwestern China. Nat Hazards 36(3):307–330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang F, Hu R, Li Z (2008) Variations and trends of the freezing and thawing index along the Qinghai-Xizang Railway for 1966-2004. J Geog Sci 18:3–16

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jin H, Li S, Wang S (2000) Effects of climate change on permafrost and environment in cold region of China. Acta Geographica Sinica 55(2):161–173 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jing Z, Jiao K, Yao T, Wang N, Li Z (2006) Mass balance and recession of Urumqi glacier No. 1, Tien Shan, China, over the last 45 years, pp 214–217

  • King L, Herza T, Hartmanna H (2006) The PACE monitoring strategy: a concept for permafrost research in Qinghai-Tibet. Quat Int 154–155:149–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li Z, Jiang F (2007) A study of abrupt climate change in Xinjiang region during 1961-2004. J Glaciol Geocryol 29(3):351–359 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Z, Yan Z (2009) Homogenized daily mean/maximum/minimum temperature series for China from 1960-2008. Atmos Ocean Sci Lett 2(4):1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Li J, Yu R, Zhou T (2008) Teleconnection between NAO and climate downstream of the Tibetan Plateau. J Clim 21:4680–4690

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu X, Chen B (2000) Climatic warming in the Tibetan Plateau during recent decades. Int J Climatol 20:1729–1742

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu S, Ding Y, Shangguan D, Zhang Y, Li J, Han H, Wang J, Xie C (2006) Glacier retreat as a result of climate warming and increased precipitation in the Tarim river basin, northwest China. Ann Glaciol 43:91–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marchenko SS, Gorbunov AP, Romanovsky VE (2007) Permafrost warming in the Tien Shan Mountains, Central Asia. Global Planet Change 56:311–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paul F, Kääb A, Haeberli W (2007) Recent glacier changes in the Alps observed by satellite: consequences for future monitoring strategies. Global Planet Change 56(1–2):111–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pu Z, Zhang S, Li J, Wang S (2008) Facts and features of climate change into warmth and damp in the Tianshan Mountains in recent 36 years. Arid Land Geography 31(3):409–415 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • She Y, Li Z, Zhang M, Wang S, Sun M (2012) Response of streamflow to climate change at the headwaters of Urumqi River in the Tianshan mountains over the recent 51 years. J Arid Land Resour Environ 26(12):113–118 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shi Y, Shen Y, Li D, Zhang G, Ding Y, Hu R, Kang E (2003) Discussion on the present climate change from warm-day to warm-wet in northwest China. Quat Sci 23:152–164 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sorg A, Bolch T, Stoffel M, Solomina O, Beniston M (2012) Climate change impacts on glaciers and runoff in Tien Shan (Central Asia). Nat Clim Change 2:725–731

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Su B, Jiang T, Jin W (2006) Recent trends in observed temperature and precipitation extremes in the Yangtze River Basin, China. Theor Appl Climatol 83:139–151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tao H, Gemmer M, Bai Y, Su B, Mao W (2011) Trends of stream flow in the Tarim River Basin during the past 50 years: human impact or climate change? J Hydrol 400:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor W (2000) Change-point analysis: a powerful new tool for detecting changes. http://www.variation.com/cpa/tech/changepoint.html

  • Turkes M, Erlat E (2008) Influence of the Arctic Oscillation on the variability of winter mean temperature in Turkey. Theor Appl Climatol 92:75–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walther GR, Post E, Convey P, Menzel A, Parmesan C, Beebee TJC, Fromentin JM, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Bairlein F (2002) Ecological responses to recent climate change. Nature 416:389–395

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang S, Jin H, Li S (2000) Permafrost degradation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its environmental impacts. Permafrost Periglac Process 11:43–54

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang G, Shen Y, Mao W (2005) Climate warming and its effects on glacier in recent 44 years in the head waters of Urumuqi River. J Glaciol Geocryol 27(6):813–819 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wanner H, Rickli R, Salvisberg E, Schmutz C, Schiiepp M (1997) Global climate change and variability and its influence on alpine climate-concepts and observations. Theor Appl Climatol 58:221–243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu Q, Liu Y (2004) Ground temperature monitoring and its recent change in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Cold Reg Sci Technol 38:85–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie Z, Wang X, Feng Q (2006) Modeling the response of glaciers to climate warming in China. Ann Glaciol 43(1):313–316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu X, Pan B, Hu E, Li Y, Liang Y (2011) Responses of two branches of Glacier No. 1 to climate change from 1993 to 2005, Tianshan, China. Quat Int 236:143–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang H, Li Z, Ye B, Jiao K, Jing Z, Zhao Z (2005) Study on mass balance and process of glacier no. 1 at the headwaters of the Urumqi River in the past 44 years. Arid Land Geography 28(1):76–80 (in Chinese)

  • Yuan Q, Wei W (2006) Annual climate change in Tianshan Mountains since recent 40 years. Arid Land Geography 23(1):115–118 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuan Y, Wei W, Mu G (2004) Features of autumn climate change in Tianshan mountainous area for the recent 40 years and comparison with those in the southern and northern Xinjiang. Chin Geogr Sci 24(6):674–679

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J, Shi Y (2002) Research for climate change and short-term forecast in Xinjiang. Meteorology Press, Beijing (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang T, Osterkamp TE, Stamnes K (1997) Effects of climate on the active layer and permafrost on the north slope of Alaska, USA. Permafrost Periglac Process 8:45–67

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou Y (1999) The hydrology and water resources of rivers in Xinjiang. Xinjiang Science, Technology and Health Press, Urumqi (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by the Knowledge Innovation Key Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No.: KZCX2-YW-GJ04) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.41171378). The authors thank the editor, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Cramer, and two anonymous reviewers for their valuable suggestions that helped to improve the quality of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), 818 South Beijing Road, Ürümqi, 830011, Xinjiang, China

    Feng-qing Jiang, Abudu-waili Jilili, Shao-ping Wang, Ru-ji Hu & Xiao-lan Li

  2. Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology and Desert Environment, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Ürümqi, 830011, Xinjiang, China

    Feng-qing Jiang & Abudu-waili Jilili

  3. Cele National Field Science Observation and Research Station for Desert-Grassland Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Cele, 848300, Xinjiang, China

    Feng-qing Jiang

Authors
  1. Feng-qing Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Abudu-waili Jilili
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shao-ping Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ru-ji Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Xiao-lan Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Feng-qing Jiang.

Additional information

Editor: Wolfgang Cramer.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOC 41 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jiang, Fq., Jilili, Aw., Wang, Sp. et al. Annual thawing and freezing indices changes in the China Tianshan Mountains. Reg Environ Change 15, 227–240 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-014-0610-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-014-0610-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation