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https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3648
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3648
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
12 Dec 2025
| 12 Dec 2025
Multi-coupling analysis of temperate glacier stability: A case study of Midui glacier on Tibet, China
Abstract. Temperate glaciers are particularly sensitive to climate warming. The instability of temperate glaciers and their geohazards chains threaten the safety of residents and engineering facilities. However, limited attention has been paid to the quantitative assessment of the stability of temperate glaciers, and the response of dynamic characteristics and hydrothermal distribution to climate change is still unclear. Herein, based on thermo-hydromechanical numerical simulation, the dynamic characteristics and hydrothermal variation of temperate glaciers are analyzed, and a conceptual model for quantitative evaluation of the stability and potential collapse area is proposed. The results show that: (1) The low temperature area is mainly concentrated in the glacier upper reaches. The minimum temperature of the glacier in the cold and warm season can reach −10 and −8 ℃, respectively, and the basal temperature is maintained at melting point temperature. (2) The maximum flow velocity in the cold and warm seasons are 45 and 50 m/yr, respectively. The maximum flow velocity is concentrated in the area with the largest glacier thickness. (3) The glacier instability strip is located in the glacier upper reaches. During the year, the factor of safety reached a maximum of 2.03 in February and a minimum of 1.48 in August.
How to cite. Li, G., Tang, M., Zhao, H., Guo, D., Yang, X., and Ran, X.: Multi-coupling analysis of temperate glacier stability: A case study of Midui glacier on Tibet, China, EGUsphere [preprint], https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3648, 2025.
Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this paper. While Copernicus Publications makes every effort to include appropriate place names, the final responsibility lies with the authors. Views expressed in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
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RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-3648', Anonymous Referee #1, 31 Dec 2025
The comment was uploaded in the form of a supplement: https://egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/2025/egusphere-2025-3648/egusphere-2025-3648-RC1-supplement.pdfCitation: https://doi.org/
10.5194/egusphere-2025-3648-RC1 -
RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-3648', Anonymous Referee #2, 04 Jan 2026
This study aims to model the stability of a temperate glacier by means of multi-coupling analyses, selecting Midui Glacier in southeastern Tibet as a test case. The region is one of the most concentrated areas of monsoon-type temperate glaciers in High-Mountain Asia, and investigating the stability of steep ice and ice–rock complexes here is timely: several catastrophic collapses have occurred during the past two decades (e.g., the 2000 Yigong and 2018 Sedongpu ice–rock avalanches).Nevertheless, the manuscript does not address the key physical processes that govern the stability of Midui Glacier. Because the glacier terminates in a pro-glacial lake, the mechanical (and thermal) state of the ice tongue is strongly influenced by calving and sub-aqueous melt. Similarly, the stability of the icefall and the steep ice above it is controlled by the glacier’s thermal structure and morphology, neither of which is constrained by in-situ data in the present work.A useful template for the level of observation required is provided by Nanni et al. (2025, Nat. Commun.), who combined detailed field measurements with numerical modelling to demonstrate a positive feedback between surface ablation, crevasse opening and glacier acceleration. Ice-temperature measurements (October 2023–April 2024) are reported for a single sensor installed 1.2 m below the surface in the ablation area. Because substantial surface lowering is expected at this site, the actual sensor depth—and thus the interpretation of the temperature record—is highly uncertain. The locations of the supraglacial RTK (real-time kinematic) GPS stations are not shown, preventing readers from assessing the representativeness of the velocity field. No field evidence is presented to validate the modelled stress or temperature fields.I strongly fell that the authors have not any ideas about the mechanism of glacier dynamcis as they have a lack of background of glaciology. Taken together, these shortcomings indicate that the authors currently lack the observational basis needed to support the conclusions drawn from their numerical simulations. This study does not demonstrate a mechanistic understanding of glacier dynamics at Midui Glacier.Citation: https://doi.org/
10.5194/egusphere-2025-3648-RC2
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Guang Li
State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
College of Environment and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Minggao Tang
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
College of Environment and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Huanle Zhao
State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
College of Environment and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Daojing Guo
State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
College of Environment and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Xiaonan Yang
State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
College of Environment and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Xu Ran
State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
College of Environment and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Short summary
Herein, the Midui glacier is taken as an example. Based on the glacier thickness and meteorological data, considering the multi-physical processes in the glacier flow, a thermo-hydromechanical coupling numerical model is established. The dynamic characteristics and hydrothermal variation of temperate glaciers are analyzed, and a conceptual model for quantitative evaluation of the stability and potential collapse area is proposed.
Herein, the Midui glacier is taken as an example. Based on the glacier thickness and...