Analysis of the Recent Features of the Meltwater Runoff from the Qiyi Glacier,Qilian Mountains

Based on the measured hydrological data from 1st August to 30st,2006,the producing,converging and draining characteristics of meltwater runoff from the Qiyi Glacier are analyzed and then its ablated characteristics are revealed.It is found that the daily maximal discharge is nine times as much as the daily minimal discharge.Estimating the glacier ablation,calculating its runoff modulus,and comparing with the previous observed results,it can be concluded that the amount and intensity of the glacier ablation have increased in the past few years;especially,in 2006 the ablation was the maximum among the latest years.Despite the amount of glacier ablation obviously dissimilar from year to year,in general,the glacier is in a state of shrinking,and that,under the condition of global warming,the shrinkage will be continuous.Analyzing the observations at the two hydrological sections beneath the glacier demonstrates that seepage loss between the two sections,not more than 2 km in distance,accounts for about 1/3 of the total meltwater runoff at the first section,thus,it is believed that,in the process of the meltwater runoff flows downwards,a part of meltwater shifts to subsurface flow.