Historical and projected evolutions of glaciers in response to climate change in the Muzart River basin, Central Asia

The phenomenon of global warming has been observed to accelerate the retreat of glaciers around the world. In this study, remote sensing data were utilized to analyze glacial changes in the Muzart River basin of Central Asia spanning the period 1976–2022, and predictive models were employed to proje...

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Main Authors: Xiang Jin, Feiteng Wang, Shuangshuang Liu, Yida Xie, Mengwei Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:International Journal of Digital Earth
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17538947.2025.2528611
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author Xiang Jin
Feiteng Wang
Shuangshuang Liu
Yida Xie
Mengwei Xu
author_facet Xiang Jin
Feiteng Wang
Shuangshuang Liu
Yida Xie
Mengwei Xu
author_sort Xiang Jin
collection DOAJ
description The phenomenon of global warming has been observed to accelerate the retreat of glaciers around the world. In this study, remote sensing data were utilized to analyze glacial changes in the Muzart River basin of Central Asia spanning the period 1976–2022, and predictive models were employed to project future glacier dynamics. In 2022, a total of 320 glaciers were identified within the basin, covering an area of 1100.73 km2. Of the total glacier area, 102.99 km2 were covered by debris, representing approximately 9.36% of the total glacier area. The glacier area exhibited a net reduction from 1339.22 km2 in 1976–1100.73 km2 in 2022. Debris-covered areas were found to inhibit glacier retreat, with the annual percentage area change in the Muzart River basin being −0.39%/a, which is lower than previously reported rates in most Central Asian basins. Since the year 2000, the retreat of glaciers has accelerated. Between the years 1976 and 2022, the debris cover of the glaciers grew by 0.74%/a. The ensemble mean of SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5 scenarios projects a 41% reduction in glacier area and 65% volume loss across the watershed during 2020–2100.
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institution Matheson Library
issn 1753-8947
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publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series International Journal of Digital Earth
spelling doaj-art-70d22eeaadbb4ccb98d7afd0fef0cd8c2025-07-14T10:09:49ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Digital Earth1753-89471753-89552025-12-0118110.1080/17538947.2025.2528611Historical and projected evolutions of glaciers in response to climate change in the Muzart River basin, Central AsiaXiang Jin0Feiteng Wang1Shuangshuang Liu2Yida Xie3Mengwei Xu4Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaKey Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaKey Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaKey Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaKey Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaThe phenomenon of global warming has been observed to accelerate the retreat of glaciers around the world. In this study, remote sensing data were utilized to analyze glacial changes in the Muzart River basin of Central Asia spanning the period 1976–2022, and predictive models were employed to project future glacier dynamics. In 2022, a total of 320 glaciers were identified within the basin, covering an area of 1100.73 km2. Of the total glacier area, 102.99 km2 were covered by debris, representing approximately 9.36% of the total glacier area. The glacier area exhibited a net reduction from 1339.22 km2 in 1976–1100.73 km2 in 2022. Debris-covered areas were found to inhibit glacier retreat, with the annual percentage area change in the Muzart River basin being −0.39%/a, which is lower than previously reported rates in most Central Asian basins. Since the year 2000, the retreat of glaciers has accelerated. Between the years 1976 and 2022, the debris cover of the glaciers grew by 0.74%/a. The ensemble mean of SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5 scenarios projects a 41% reduction in glacier area and 65% volume loss across the watershed during 2020–2100.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17538947.2025.2528611Muzart River basinglacier changeclimate changeOGGM
spellingShingle Xiang Jin
Feiteng Wang
Shuangshuang Liu
Yida Xie
Mengwei Xu
Historical and projected evolutions of glaciers in response to climate change in the Muzart River basin, Central Asia
International Journal of Digital Earth
Muzart River basin
glacier change
climate change
OGGM
title Historical and projected evolutions of glaciers in response to climate change in the Muzart River basin, Central Asia
title_full Historical and projected evolutions of glaciers in response to climate change in the Muzart River basin, Central Asia
title_fullStr Historical and projected evolutions of glaciers in response to climate change in the Muzart River basin, Central Asia
title_full_unstemmed Historical and projected evolutions of glaciers in response to climate change in the Muzart River basin, Central Asia
title_short Historical and projected evolutions of glaciers in response to climate change in the Muzart River basin, Central Asia
title_sort historical and projected evolutions of glaciers in response to climate change in the muzart river basin central asia
topic Muzart River basin
glacier change
climate change
OGGM
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17538947.2025.2528611
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AT yidaxie historicalandprojectedevolutionsofglaciersinresponsetoclimatechangeinthemuzartriverbasincentralasia
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