Global climate change and cryospheric evolution in China

Abstract

Major outcomes of Working Group I, IPCC AR4 (2007), as well as the recent understandings from our regional climatic assessments in China were summarized. Changes of cryosphere in China, one of the major components in regional climate system, is specifically reviewed. Under the global/regional warming, all components of cryosphere in China (Tibetan Plateau and surroundings) including glaciers, frozen ground (including permafrost) and snow cover show rapid decay in the last decades. These changes have big socioeconomic impacts in west China, thus encourages both government and scientists pay more and more attention to this field.