Changes of glacial lakes and implications in Tian Shan, central Asia, based on remote sensing data from 1990 to 2010

Changes of glacial lakes and implications were assessed for the Tian Shan Mountains from 1990 to 2010, based on Landsat Thematic Mapper/Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus images. The total area of glacial lakes has expanded greatly over the last 20 years, at an average rate of 0.69 ± 0.12 km2 a-1 or 0.8 ± 0.1% a-1. Eastern Tian Shan contributed nearly half that increase (≈0.34 ± 0.03 km2 a-1), followed by northern Tian Shan at 0.17 ± 0.03 km 2 a-1. Both widespread climate warming and glacier shrinking led to glacial lake areal expansion, while small to medium (