Spatiotemporal Variability in the Glacier Snowline Altitude across High Mountain Asia and Potential Driving Factors

The glacier snowline altitude (SLA) at the end of melt season is an indicator equilibrium line and can be used to estimate mass balance reconstruct past climate. This study analyzes spatiotemporal variability in SLA across High Mountain Asia, including Altai Mountains, Karakoram Western Himalayas, Gongga Tian Shan, Nyainqentanglha over 30 years (1989–2019) better elucidate state these mountain glaciers. Remote-sensing data are processed delineate mountainous regions, nearby weather station incorporated determine potential relationships between temperature/precipitation. mean SLAs mountains ranged from 2860 ± 169 m 3200 152 5120 159 5320 240 m, respectively, with both regions experiencing average increase up 137 years. Furthermore, Himalayas Mountains increased by 190–282 years, large fluctuations. In particular, varied 4910 190 1989 5380 164 2000, that 4960 70 5330 100 2012. Correlation analyses temperature/precipitation suggest temperature primary factor influencing Asia There a broad decrease decreasing latitude Himalayas; maximum occurs near northern slopes Himalayas. lower on eastern side Tibetan Plateau exhibits longitudinal distribution pattern. These results expected provide useful information for evaluating glaciers, as well their response feedback climate change.