Variations of the components of energy balance on the Laohugou No.12 glacier in the Qilian Mountains during the ablation period

The research of the energy balance is valuable to reveal the hydrothermal conditions of the modern glacier's development and the interaction between glacier and climate, especially in the regions where the observational data are limit. The characteristics of the components of the surface energy balance are analyzed, and the compositions of energy balance are estimated based on observed meteorological data during June 1 and September 30, 2009, at an elevation of 5040 meters of the Laohugou No.12 glacier in Qilian Mountains. The results are obtained as follows: during ablation period, the net radiation (72%) is the principal energy source at the glacier surface, and the next is the sensible heat flux(28%), whereas the heat flux which is used for snow/ice melting (70%) is the main energy expenditure, and the next is the latent heat flux (30%).