Characteristics of the distribution of glaciers in China

Abstract

About 80% of the glaciers in China have been inventoried. Based on the inventory and an estimate of the area that has not been inventoried, there are about 45 375 glaciers in China, with a total area of 58 735 km2 and an ice volume of about 5.31 × 1012 m3. These glaciers are widespread in high mountains and in highland areas in western China, between 27°06′ to 49°09′N and 71°32′ to 103°54′E. The glacierized area in China comprises about 16% of the alpine glacier area in the world, and 47% of that in Asia. There are about 230 large glaciers, with areas exceeding 100 km2, in the world outside Antarctica and Greenland. Among them, 65 (28%) are in Asia and 31 (13%) in China.