The Himalayan glaciers contribute significantly to regional water resources. However, limited field observations restrict our understanding of glacier dynamics and behaviour. Here, we investigated the long-term in situ mass balance, meteorology, ice velocity and discharge of the Chhota Shigri Glacier. The mean annual glacier-wide mass balance was negative, −0.46 ± 0.40 m w.e. a−1 for the period 2002–2019 corresponding to a cumulative wastage of −7.87 m w.e. Winter mass balance was 1.15 m w.e. a−1 and summer mass balance was −1.35 m w.e. a−1 over 2009–2019. Surface ice velocity has decreased on average by 25–42% in the lower and middle ablation zone (below 4700 m a.s.l.) since 2003; however, no substantial change was observed at higher altitudes. The decrease in velocity suggests that the glacier is adjusting its flow in response to negative mass balance. The summer discharge begins to rise from May and peaks in July, with a contribution of 43%, followed by 38% and 19% in August and September, respectively. The discharge pattern closely follows the air temperature. The long-term observation on the ‘Chhota Shigri – a benchmark glacier’, shows a mass wastage which corresponds to the slowdown of the glacier in the past two decades.

中文翻译：

---

使用原位测量了解 2002-2019 年 Chhota Shigri 冰川的质量平衡、气象、流量和表面速度之间的相互关系

喜马拉雅冰川对区域水资源的贡献很大。然而，有限的实地观察限制了我们对冰川动力学和行为的理解。在这里，我们调查了 Chhota Shigri 冰川的长期原位质量平衡、气象、冰速和流量。年平均冰川范围质量平衡为负，-0.46 ± 0.40 m-1在 2002-2019 年期间，对应于 -7.87 m 的累积浪费，我们冬季质量平衡为 1.15 m，我们-1夏季质量平衡为 -1.35 m-12009-2019 年。自 2003 年以来，中下消融区（海拔 4700 米以下）的地表冰速平均下降了 25-42%；然而，在更高的高度没有观察到实质性的变化。速度的降低表明冰川正在调整其流量以响应负质量平衡。夏季流量从 5 月开始上升，7 月达到峰值，贡献率为 43%，8 月和 9 月分别为 38% 和 19%。排放模式紧跟空气温度。对“Chhota Shigri - 基准冰川”的长期观察显示，过去二十年冰川的速度放缓对应着大量浪费。