Chinese Scientists Use ‘3D CT’ to Decode Glacier Melting and Climate Change
Chinese scientists are deploying advanced multi-dimensional imaging techniques — described as a “3D CT” approach — to decode the climate signals embedded in the rapidly melting glaciers of the Altai Mountains in Xinjiang, according to Xinhua News. The expedition, conducted by the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, aims to precisely understand how mountain glaciers are responding to global warming and what this means for regional water resources.
The Expedition
A research team from the Altai Mountains Cryosphere Science and Sustainable Development Comprehensive Observation and Research Station recently conducted a specialized field campaign on the Muzdu Glacier, located at approximately 3,400 meters above sea level in the Sawur Mountains of Jimunai County, Xinjiang. The team carried out on-site measurements of glacier mass balance, terminus changes, and surface albedo, while systematically collecting meteorological, hydrological, and glacier change data.
The “3D CT” concept refers to the comprehensive, multi-dimensional approach scientists use to build a complete picture of glacier health — analogous to how a CT scan creates a three-dimensional image of the human body. By combining mass balance stakes, portable spectrometers for albedo measurement, terminus tracking, weather station data, and hydrological monitoring, researchers construct a holistic view of glacier dynamics that no single measurement could provide.
Accelerating Glacier Loss
The urgency of this research is underscored by the accelerating pace of glacial retreat. As Xinhua reported, extreme weather events have become more frequent due to global climate warming, and mountain glacier melting has accelerated significantly, drawing increasing attention to glacier ecological environment changes.
Research published in the journal Catena by the same institute’s team found that Altai Mountain glaciers have been continuously retreating and thinning from 2000 to 2021, though the rate of area retreat and thickness reduction slowed during 2010-2021 compared to the previous decade. According to China Science Daily, snowmelt water contributes the most to river runoff in the region at approximately 37.1%, with the overall cryosphere contribution to river runoff in China’s Altai Mountains reaching about 41.9%.
“Among various cryosphere elements, snowmelt water is the most important for local water resources in China’s Altai Mountains,” said Wang Puyu, station director of the Altai Mountains Cryosphere Science and Sustainable Development Comprehensive Observation and Research Station, as quoted by China Science Daily. “More attention should be paid to snow change research in the future.”
Regional Water Security Concerns
The Altai Mountains serve as a natural barrier spanning Russia, China, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. The southern slope of the central Altai Mountains in China’s Xinjiang region lies in an arid zone, making cryosphere changes particularly significant for regional water resources and ecosystems.
A separate study published in Science of the Total Environment and highlighted by UCAS News examined the Sawur Mountains, where the Muzdu Glacier is located. The research found that glacier albedo in the region decreased at a rate of 0.015 per decade from 2000 to 2020, with sustained glacier mass loss averaging -1.01 meters water equivalent annually. Glacier melt runoff accounted for approximately 25.81% of total runoff in the region.
Wang Puyu emphasized the importance of this research for regional planning: “According to research results, future cryosphere changes will further significantly impact China’s Altai Mountains, so research on the mechanisms, processes, and water resource impacts of cryosphere element changes needs to be strengthened.”
A Legacy of Cryosphere Research
The current expedition builds on decades of cryosphere research in the region. The State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, which oversees much of this work, was the first laboratory in the world named after cryospheric science. As UCAS News documented, researchers from the laboratory have been studying the Muzdu Glacier since at least 2014, when a field team narrowly escaped a dangerous blizzard while collecting snow and ice samples from the glacier.
China is home to the most developed cryosphere in the mid-to-low latitudes of the Earth, with widespread glaciers, permafrost, and snow cover that play critical roles in maintaining oasis economies in arid regions and supporting the stability of cold-region ecosystems.
What’s Next
The expedition aims to provide detailed scientific data support for regional glacier protection and water resource ecological management. As global warming continues to reshape mountain systems worldwide, the findings from the Altai Mountains will contribute to broader understanding of how cryosphere changes affect water availability in arid regions — knowledge that is increasingly vital for sustainable development planning across Central Asia and beyond.
Wang Puyu stressed the need for targeted action: “Targeted rational use of limited water resources is also needed to ensure the stability and sustainable development of local ecosystems.” The data collected during this expedition will inform these efforts, helping scientists and policymakers better anticipate and respond to the cascading effects of glacier loss in a warming world.