A new type of ice formation zone found in the Himalayas

Ice formation was studied on the Dasuopu Glacier located in the Mount Xixab angma (28 degrees 23' N, 85 degrees 43'E) in the Himalayas. Snow pits and s hallow ice cores are analyzed to reveal ice formation process. The results show that the ice formation process, or in other words, the process of dens itification, on the col (7 000 m a. s. l.) of the Dasuopu Glacier is a stab le, slow and gradual process. The snow-ice transformation on the glacier is estimated to be 30-40 m below the surface. The temperature on the Dasuopu Glacier is very low (similar to -14 degrees C at 10 m) and similar to that in polar type ice cap. We, therefore, speculate that the process of snow-ic e transformation is undertaken under snow pressure, and that there is a per colation zone on the Dasuopu Glacier. The high altitude of the col and mons oon snow fall accompnied by heavy cloud and high albedo favorite the percol ation zone formation.