Glacier distribution and changes over the past 50 years in the Kaidu-Konqi River Basin, northwestern China

As a highly sensitive indicator of climate change in the arid northwest region of China, glacier dynamics in the Kaidu-Konqi River Basin directly influence regional runoff patterns, thereby playing a crucial role in shaping regional hydrology and maintaining ecological stability. This study systematically assessed glacier distribution in 2020 and analyzed glacier changes from 1972 to 2020 using the Chinese Glacier Inventory of Xinjiang in 2020 (CGI-XJ2020), historical satellite imagery from 1972, and data from the Second Chinese Glacier Inventory. In 2020, the basin contained 713 glaciers covering 313.99 km 2 , with an estimated glacier volume of 11.81 km 3 (0.41% glacier coverage). Glaciers were predominantly clustered in the northern and southwestern mountains. Small glaciers (<0.5 km 2 ) comprised 78% of the glacier count but only 3% of the total area, whereas glaciers ≥0.5 km 2 accounted for 97% of the total area and 83.6% of the glacier volume. From 1972 to 2020, the total glacier area decreased by 42.28% (229.99 km 2 ) and glacier volume by 49.51% (11.58 km 3 ), equating to mean annual rates of −0.88% and −1.03%, respectively. Glacier retreat drives temporary increases in meltwater supply but threatens long-term regional runoff stability and ecological water security. The retreat rate varied over different periods, with a more pronounced decline observed between 1972 and 2007. These findings highlight an accelerating glacier loss in the basin, underscoring the need for continued monitoring and assessment of its hydrological and ecological impacts.