Seasonal variation in sediment load from Mingyong Glacier catchment, Yunnan, China

Lai Hsia Boey (1) , Xixi Lu (1) , Healther Fair (2)

1 Yunnan University of Finance and Economics [Kunming, China]
2 NUS - National University of Singapore

The Mingyong Glacier is one of the tributaries of the Lancang River in China. It is one of the glaciers located on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and the rapid retreat of glaciers around the region is a cause of concern. Sediment load is defined as the amount of sediment removed from a watershed by flowing water during a specified period of time. An increased rate of glacier melt would provide more energy to transport glacial materials, which has impact on the lower reaches of the river. We have monitored the water flow and sediment concentration through regular measurements of the water levels and flow velocity, and water sampling for suspended sediment concentration since 2013. This paper aims to analyse the seasonal variation in sediment load from the Mingyong Glacier and its implications on land resource management.

Domaines: Biodiversité et Ecologie; Ecologie, Environnement

Lai Hsia Boey, Xixi Lu, Healther Fair. Seasonal variation in sediment load from Mingyong Glacier catchment, Yunnan, China. Research and methods in ecohealth and conservation, GDRI Ecosystem Health and Environmental Disease Ecology, Nov 2016, Kunming, China. ⟨hal-01386928⟩