1980年,中国科学院兰州冰川冻土研究所开展了对中国阿尔泰山冰川冻土的考察研究和冰川编目。组织了阿尔泰山冰川考察队,于当年夏季深入到友谊峰区,对南坡的喀纳斯河源冰川进行了半定位考察,并对其东部地区作了路线考察(图1)。

In the summer of 1980, the Lanzhou Institute of Gkciology and Cryopedology of the Acadomia Sinica, was organized by the first Altay Grlaciological Investigation Team, and carried out the field project at the Youyi Peak area and the projected route in the eastern part of Altay. It was found that this area had a larger precipitation in cold season and the glaciers belonged to the sub-cold-season nourishment type. The glaciers have the characteristics of warmer ice temperature, stronger ablation and faster move-ment, classified as sub-continental glacier. According to the newly compiled Glacier in-ventory of Altay Mountains in China, the total number of glaciers in this asea is 416 with an area of 293.2 KM2 and an ice storage of 16.49 KM3. The content of chemical elements in the ice and snow body is very low, and supplies a good quality of water. In recent score of years, the amount of retseat of the large glaciers is maeh large than the small glaciers but a few specific small glaciers are still advancing.