Distribution characteristics of glaciers across different elevation zones

Reveals distinct characteristics and spatial heterogeneity in glacier changes and distribution across different zones and time periods within the Ányêmaqên Mountains, varying significantly with elevation (Zhao et al. 2020). Glaciers in this region are predominantly concentrated within the 5200–5400 m elevation band. This zone exhibited substantial overall area loss, accounting for 57.26% (mean area: 50.47 km²) of the total glacierized area during 2009–2024. Notably, interannual area fluctuations within this elevation band were minor, with values generally oscillating near 51 km², indicating relatively stable glacier behavior. Conversely, glacier coverage below 5200 m is limited. This lower zone, corresponding to the primary snout distribution area, represented only 5.12% (mean area: 6.21 km²) of the total area. However, this elevation band experienced more pronounced interannual area variations (Su et al. 2021), suggesting heightened activity associated with glacier termini dynamics.