Impact of Intensive Glacier Ablation on Arid Regions of Northwest China and Its Countermeasure

Arid Regions of Northwest China are most ecologically vulnerable regions and the core regions of national security and ecological security. The glaciers in the arid regions of Northwest China are called solid reservoirs. Melting water from glaciers is not only important water sources for the local development, but also the lifeblood of the local unique oasis economy. In the context of climate warming, the glaciers in arid regions of Northwest China ablate extremely and their number and size are decreasing. Intensive glacier ablation has seriously affected the pattern of regional water resources, the sustainable development of agriculture and the ecosystem stability, which challenge the existing water resources management system and disaster prevention measures. The development and management ideas should be changed, the capacity building of adaptation to the glacier retreat should be improved, and the technological research should be strengthened, in order to actively explore the adaptive countermeasures agai