Positive degree-day factors for ice ablation on Yala Glacier, central Nepal, Xiao Dongkemadi Glacier and July 1st Glacier in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, west China, are calculated during a summer season of 1996, 1993 and 2002, respectively, and compared with the degree-day factors calculated on Glacier AX010, east Nepal during a summer season of 1978. The degree-day factors for summer ice ablation at two altitudes 5120m and 5270m a.s.l. on Yala Glacier range from 8.0 to 10.5mm d-1.DEG.C.-1. In the case of Xiao Dongkemadi Glacier, the factors range from 13.3(at 5425m) to 14.2mm d-1.DEG.C.-1(at 5475m) and on July 1st Glacier, the factors at altitudes from 4305m to 4619m a.s.l. range from 5.5 to 8.8mm d-1.DEG.C.-1. Larger degree-day factors are found on glaciers situated at higher altitude. The results of the individual glaciers also indicate that the degree-day factor for ice at higher altitude is larger than at the lower altitude, which is mainly due to ablation attributed to absorbed global radiation at the high altitude where the positive degree-day sum is low due to low summer air temperature.
