Implications of elevation-dependent warming to water resources over the Chinese Qilian Mountains

Warming in mountainous regions has experienced obvious elevation dependence (the warming rate of air temperature is amplified with elevation), which accelerate the melting of ice and snow, affecting glacier size and mass, and water resources in mountainous regions. Here, we used ERA5-Land monthly averaged datasets from 1979 to 2019 to analyze the elevation-dependent warming (EDW) variability, driving factor, and its implications to water resources in the Qilian Mountains (QLM). Results showed that: (1) Annual mean temperature shows a significant increasing trend in the QLM from 1979 to 2019 (0.31 & DEG;C/10a; p < 0.01), and the warming rate of annual mean temperature increased with elevation in the QLM in general. For seasonal scales, the most obvious EDW was found in summer. In the past 41 years, snow cover and snow depth showed a slight decreasing trend. There was a significant negative correlation between temperature and snow cover, which can explain that enhanced regional warming has caused decreases in snow cover and snow depth, largely controlling the pattern of EDW on the QLM. EDW has significant implications for water resources over QLM, especially above 5,000 m. Our study can provide a reference in understanding the importance of EDW to water resources in mountain areas.

Automated summary

Warming in mountainous regions has accelerated the melting of ice and snow, affecting glaciers and water resources. The Qilian Mountains show an increasing trend in elevation-dependent warming, with the most obvious warming occurring in summer. Enhanced regional warming has caused decreases in snow cover, with significant implications for water resources, especially above 5,000 meters.