XIONIA / GLACIERS

China glaciers: map, annual measurements & history

Explore 76 distinct glaciers in the available WGMS monitoring sample for China. The combined record spans 1900–2025; coverage and gaps differ for each glacier. Examples in the record include URUMQI GLACIER NO. 1, URUMQI GLACIER NO. 1 W-BRANCH, URUMQI GLACIER NO. 1 E-BRANCH.

Find the glacier pin and map temperatures, a forecast for up to 14 days and the hourly meteogram. Compare 850 hPa and precipitation ensembles, inspect weather satellite imagery and explore the WGMS observation history.

76glaciers with observation series
25with mass-balance measurements
1900–2025year range across available series
URUMQI GLACIER NO. 1 · 7-day forecast

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Glacier map, coordinates and temperatures

Dots mark WGMS monitoring locations. Select a glacier or click another map point: the widget, detailed forecast, meteogram, ensembles and satellite update for those same coordinates.

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Temperatures apply to the selected forecast point. Day choices appear only where numeric data are available, up to 14 days.

FORECAST AT YOUR COORDINATES

Weather and 14-day forecast · URUMQI GLACIER NO. 1

43.1176°, 86.8105°

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Detailed forecast and model comparison · URUMQI GLACIER NO. 1

Daily temperature, 850 hPa, precipitation, snow, wind and pressure at the selected point. The combination uses the available models from the same forecast; missing values stay missing.

Hourly glacier meteogram · URUMQI GLACIER NO. 1

Follow 2 m and 850 hPa temperature, rain, snow and wind over the next 72 hours. Change models, range and variables, select an hour on the chart or open full screen.

Ensembles 850 hPa & precipitation · URUMQI GLACIER NO. 1

Each ensemble model calculates many possible outcomes from slightly different initial conditions. Thin lines represent its members and the stronger line their mean. A wider spread indicates greater uncertainty. Compare direct NOAA GEFS/AIGEFS, ECMWF IFS ENS/AIFS ENS and ECCC GEPS data when the corresponding downloads have completed.

The first visit to a new point may require collection time. This section shows the actual status and available range, without inventing members or values.

Weather satellite at the glacier · URUMQI GLACIER NO. 1

Inspect cloud cover using available visible and infrared channels. Image times and geographic coverage depend on the satellite; not every geostationary satellite covers polar regions. Cloud images do not measure glacier thickness.

Open satellite and radar · Powered by www.xionia.com

Glacier history and WGMS observations

Historical observations belong to URUMQI GLACIER NO. 1.

URUMQI GLACIER NO. 1

Measurements and references

Powered by www.xionia.com · WGMS

Glacier catalogue — China

Counts cover glaciers with mass-balance or observed front-variation records in this archive. They are not the total glacier population of a country.

WGMS observation series
GlacierMass balanceFront variation
24K2008–2008
ATA1917–2006
BAISHUI NO. 11900–2002
CHONGCE ICE CAP1987–1987
COLLIERY1969–1989
DAGONGBA1981–1990
DASUOPU1968–2007
EAST RONGBUK1966–2004
FYODOROVICH1966–1974
G075075E38189N1973–2013
G075084E38279N1973–2013
G075101E38308N1973–2013
G075171E38163N1973–2013
G075175E38297N1973–2013
GOZHA1970–1987
GULIYA1970–1990
GURENHEKOU2006–20101974–2004
HAILUOGOU1989–19931900–2007
HALONG GL.1966–1981
KALAGEYULE WUK.1964–1978
KALAXIONG1973–2013
KANGWURE1992–20101976–2008
KEGIKER1973–1976
KEKESAYI1973–2013
KEMATULEJIA1973–2013
KOXKAR2004–2005
KUOKUOSELE1973–2013
KUOSIKULAKE1973–2013
LAOHUGOU1976–19761962–1985
LAPATE NO.481964–1981
LAPATE NO.511964–2005
LAPATE NO.531964–1981
MALAN1970–2000
MEIKUANG1989–2001
MELANG1932–2002
MUZHAERTE GLACIER1906–1978
MUZTAG ATA (GLACIER NO. 15)2001–20141973–2013
NAIMONA NYI2006–20181976–2006
NAINUOGERU1932–1982
NINGCHAN GLACIER NO.12011–2015
NO.040.14.03.171980–1990
NO.6761977–1985
PARLUNG NO. 3902007–2010
PARLUNG NO. 942007–20252006–2025
PARLUNG ZANGBO: NO. 042006–20071980–2005
PARLUNG ZANGBO: NO. 102006–2009
PARLUNG ZANGBO: NO. 122006–2010
PUROGANGRI1974–2000
QIANGYONG1975–2001
QIERGANBULAK1973–2013
QIYI1975–20101958–2008
QUNTAILAN1962–1973
RONGBU1921–1980
RONGBUK1966–2004
SAYIGAPEIR1942–1976
SHCHUKIN1966–1972
SHUIGUANHE NO.41963–19771976–1984
SIGONHE NO.41956–1972
SIGONHE NO.51959–1961
TUERGANGOU1960–1984
TUGEBIELIQI1959–1976
UNNAMED 151571973–2013
URUMQI GLACIER NO. 11959–20251962–2023
URUMQI GLACIER NO. 1 E-BRANCH1988–20251995–2025
URUMQI GLACIER NO. 1 W-BRANCH1988–20251995–2025
WEIGELE DANGXI.1966–1981
XIAO DONGKZMADI1989–20101992–2002
XIAOGONGBA1981–1990
XIBU1970–1999
XIDATAN1969–1989
YANGLONGHE NO.51977–19791956–1977
YANZIGOU1930–1990
YIEHELONG GL.1966–1981
YULONG1930–1982
ZHADANG2006–20081970–2007
ZHONGXI2008–2010

Glaciers by country and territory

Antarctica299 in the sample · 1940–2025Argentina40 in the sample · 1660–2025Austria160 in the sample · 1620–2025Bhutan3 in the sample · 1984–2021Bolivia4 in the sample · 1963–2024Canada102 in the sample · 1720–2025Chile180 in the sample · 1628–2025China76 in the sample · 1900–2025Colombia46 in the sample · 1945–2025DR Congo1 in the sample · 1906–2005Ecuador1 in the sample · 1956–2025France17 in the sample · 1730–2025Georgia40 in the sample · 1810–2025Germany2 in the sample · 1896–1968Greenland99 in the sample · 1811–2025Heard and McDonald Islands21 in the sample · 1947–2019Iceland91 in the sample · 1740–2025India69 in the sample · 1780–2025Indonesia3 in the sample · 1825–1990Italy413 in the sample · 1833–2025Japan1 in the sample · 1968–2025Kazakhstan33 in the sample · 1850–2025Kenya13 in the sample · 1893–2014Kyrgyzstan45 in the sample · 1850–2025Mexico2 in the sample · 1921–1999Nepal23 in the sample · 1910–2025New Zealand95 in the sample · 1865–2025Norway97 in the sample · 1600–2025Pakistan17 in the sample · 1850–2010Peru17 in the sample · 1932–2025Poland4 in the sample · 1978–2016Russia113 in the sample · 1604–2025South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands6 in the sample · 1882–2003Spain30 in the sample · 1825–2025Svalbard and Jan Mayen42 in the sample · 1861–2025Sweden21 in the sample · 1896–2025Switzerland136 in the sample · 1833–2025Tajikistan180 in the sample · 1870–2025Türkiye1 in the sample · 1902–2008Uganda1 in the sample · 1906–2003United States223 in the sample · 1670–2025Uzbekistan11 in the sample · 1961–2025

Why glaciers matter: water, climate and changing mountains

A glacier is a body of snow and ice that flows over land. Snow accumulation adds mass; melting and ice loss remove it. A snowy week is therefore only one part of a much longer balance. NSIDC: glaciers.

Glacier melt contributes to river flow and freshwater supply. Ice stored on land also matters for sea level when it reaches the ocean. Changing ice affects mountain landscapes and the ecosystems connected to meltwater. NSIDC: why glaciers matter.

Use the country pages to move from a broad view to an individual observation record. Then open nearby mountain or ski-resort forecasts to examine temperature, precipitation and wind. These forecasts describe short-term weather; the glacier history describes measured change over years.

How to read glacier mass balance and retreat

Annual mass balance, m w.e. A positive value means net mass gain during the reported hydrological year; a negative value means net loss. Metres of water equivalent express the mass as an equivalent water layer. They are not a direct measurement of metres of ice thickness at one point. WGMS: mass-balance units.

Front variation, metres. This measures movement of the glacier terminus between the stated dates. Negative values mean retreat, positive values advance. A measurement interval may span several years: the chart preserves the interval and does not invent annual values.

Missing years and different methods. Gaps remain gaps. Winter and summer balances are displayed only when reported. Glacier outlines are dated observations of shape, while a mass-balance series measures change; combining them does not turn the map into a live ice forecast.

Planning a mountain visit. Links to nearby destinations show approximate straight-line distances, not routes across ice. Check the destination’s forecast and current local operating information before choosing a ski area or mountain itinerary.

Sources, coverage and updates

Location catalogue: public WGMS service, retrieved 2026-09-14. Historical series are requested from WGMS when you select a glacier, with a seven-day cache. Each series displays its edition and retrieval time. Cached copies are clearly marked when the source is unavailable.

Forecast and meteogram: available weather models via Open-Meteo or direct NOAA, ECMWF and ECCC/GEM feeds, with source selection. Ensembles use direct official feeds. Weather models and meteorological maps · Embeddable weather widgets.