A dataset of glacier elevation change in Muztag Ata and Kongur Tagh from 1971 to 2014

Glacier change under climate change plays a significant role in regional water resources and the hydrological cycle, and glacier elevation change is one of the key indicators of climate change. Muztag Ata and Kongur Tagh region is one of the key glacier regions in eastern Pamir, China. This region is not only a hot area of glacier study, but also the part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Therefore, the importance of glaciers research in this region is growing. Glacier elevation changes were derived from topographic maps, SRTM DEM and ASTER images from 1971 to 2014. Within the spatial extent of 38°N–39°N，74°40′E–75°40′E, the region covers 434 glaciers with total area of 998.78 km2. The result was restored in stored in GeoTiff format in 32-bit floating point with a spatial resolution of 30 m. To mitigate influences of the relative errors between DEMs from the generating procedures, we correct these errors before estimating elevation change using the relation between error and terrain factor. And we also evaluated the penetration depth of the C-band radar beam of SRTM into snow and ice. A statistical analysis of the residual error of elevation change in the non-glacial area indicates that the results have an overall accuracy of about 0.02~0.07 m a-1. The dataset can serve as the basis for investigating the glacier volume change in this region, providing statistical support for glacier mass balance research. In addition, the dataset can be analyzed combine the data of climate and hydrology, revealing the quantitative relationship between glaciers, climate and hydrology. It will be helpful in improving scientific understanding of the dynamics of glaciers under a changing climate and our knowledge of the water effects of glacial changes in the region.

气候变化背景下的冰川变化对区域水资源与水文循环具有重要影响，而冰川高程变化是气候变化的关键指示因子之一。慕士塔格峰（Muztag Ata）与公格尔峰（Kongur Tagh）所在区域是中国帕米尔东部的核心冰川分布区之一，该区域不仅是冰川研究的热点区域，同时也是中巴经济走廊的组成部分，因此该区域的冰川研究重要性与日俱增。
本数据集的1971年至2014年冰川高程变化数据，源自地形图、航天飞机雷达地形测绘任务数字高程模型（SRTM DEM）以及高级星载热发射和反射辐射计（ASTER）影像。研究区域的空间范围为北纬38°~39°、东经74°40′~75°40′，区内共计434条冰川，总面积达998.78平方千米。最终成果以32位浮点型GeoTiff格式存储，空间分辨率为30米。
为削弱不同DEM在生成流程中引入的相对误差影响，研究团队借助误差与地形因子的关联关系，在开展高程变化估算前先对数据进行了误差校正；同时还评估了SRTM的C波段雷达波束在冰雪中的穿透深度。通过对非冰川区域的高程变化残差进行统计分析，本数据集的整体精度约为0.02~0.07米/年。
本数据集可作为该区域冰川体积变化研究的基础数据，为冰川物质平衡研究提供统计支撑。
此外，本数据集可与气候、水文数据结合开展分析，揭示冰川、气候与水文之间的定量关联，这将有助于深化对气候变化背景下冰川动力学机制的科学认知，以及对该区域冰川变化水文效应的理解。