Mountain Glaciers in China are Melting Faster Than Previously Thought Due to Global Heat Wave [Study]

Mountain glaciers in China are melting faster than previously thought due to a global heat wave that occurred in 2022, according to a new study led by a research team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing. The findings of the study confirmed the process of glacier melting, particularly in China's Urumqi Glacier No. 1, is accelerated by summer heat waves.

The new research paper arrived at its conclusion by determining that the mass balance of Urumqi Glacier, the only mountain glacier in the country with over 30 years of consistent glaciological mass, has decreased significantly during the summer of 2022. The findings show that the gargantuan glacier in China incurred its lowest mass value since the observation record started in 1958.

In recent years, the intensity and frequency of extreme heat wave events have become evident across the northern hemisphere, which includes countries like China and the United States. Along with Europe, these nations had experienced intense heat domes. While previous studies had focused on Antarctic glacier melting, the same climatic phenomenon goes for the rest of the world as well.

Mountain Glacier Melting Acceleration

Researchers at the Chinese academy's Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources led by Prof. Wang Feiteng published their findings about the accelerated mountain glacier melting in China in the Journal of Glaciology on January 22. As mentioned earlier, the study confirms substantial mass loss for Urumqi Glacier No. 1.

The decreased mass value of Urumqi Glacier was reported to be at -1,503 millimeters as of summer 2022, which is considered to be the largest material loss year since the recording of the said mountain glacier. This accelerated glacial melting became possible when the recorded average summer temperature near Urumqi in 2022 was registered at 6.4 degrees Celsius.

The researchers also found that the extreme heat wave resulted in intense glacier melting at higher elevation areas. Moreover, the relatively high temperature in 2022 caused the proportion of solid and liquid precipitation in mountain glacier areas to decrease. Furthermore, the glaciers absorbed larger quantities of shortwave solar radiation from the Sun, accelerating glacier melting.

2022 Global Heat Wave

The research was conducted by the academy under the context of the extreme heat events in the summer of 2022, which was observed not only in China but also across Eurasia and North America. Other parts of the world that experienced scorching temperatures are East Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and Australia.

The 2022 global heat wave also resulted in unprecedented natural disasters, including wildfires, and human casualties. In Europe, the 2022 summer heatwaves may have caused 70,000 excess deaths across the continent, according to a study published in the journal, The Lancet Regional Health - Europe. Scientists link the deaths to heat-related factors, which was observed before globally, including in the US, some parts of Africa and South America in recent years.