Glacier changes from 1964 to 2004 in the Jinghe River basin, Tien Shan

•The glacier area decreased by ~ 15% in the Jinghe River basin from 1964 to 2004.•The maximum area loss occurred in the 1.0–5.0 km2 size class.•The temperature warming is the main reason for the glacier melting.

This study reports glacier changes in the Jinghe River basin during the period 1964–2004 based on ASTER image and topographic maps. The results show that the total area of the studied glaciers in the Jinghe River basin decreased by ~ 15% from 1964 to 2004. The loss in glacier length and ice volume is 229.5 m and 1.17 km3, respectively, during the period 1964–2004. The rate of glacier retreat in the Jinghe River basin is similar to that of glaciers in the eastern and central Tien Shan, but slower than the retreat rate in the Northern Tien Shan. The retreat in glacier area during the two time periods is consistent with rising temperatures in the basin, which have been increasing by an average of 0.32 °C per decade. During this period there has been a general increase in glacial runoff. If glacier ice loss in the basin continues at the current rate down stream water resources will be negatively impacted.