The No. 1 glacier in the Tianshan Mountains in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has been retreating by more than four meters every year and its thickness has shrunk by more than 15 meters from 1958 to 2010, said Li Zhongqin, head of the Tianshan Mountains Glacier Observation Station under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The shrinking of the glacier has gathered pace since the 1980s, Li added.

David Molden, director of the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) argues that climate change is the leading cause in the acceleration of the glacier thawing, with the second leading cause being black carbon.

The black carbon refers to the particles including dust and ashes generated by incomplete combustion of carbon-containing material such as the fossil and biomass material.

Researchers at the Tianshan Mountains Glacier Observation Station under the Chinese Academy of Sciences said there are several power plants and building material factories, which have been operating for nearly 30 years near the glacier.

The black carbon emissions from the plants have been accumulating on the surface of the glacier, and the black color of the particles can absorb heat from the sun and intensify the thawing of the glacier, researchers said.

Additionally, the plants have also been polluting the water supply of the regional capital Urumqi, since the Urumqi River that runs through the city is originated from the glacier.

Approximately 120 kilometers away from the regional capital, Urumqi, the No.1 glacier is the closest to a city in the world.

Reporters also found that apart from some birds and wild flowers, there are no other wild animals or vegetation near the glacier. Added to this, white trash and fruit peels are scattered there.

In 2006, the local government of Urumqi ruled that the tourists were not allowed to visit the No. 1 glacier in order to protect the city's water source.

However, some tourists have managed to find their way to the area as there are no fences or guards to prevent entry.

More than a dozen households of herdsmen are now inhabiting the area. In order to make money, some herdsmen have been taking tourists to the area by motorcycles.

Li Zhongqin said herdsmen and the tourists have not been accelerating the thawing of the glacier, but that wastewater and other rubbish produced by people had been polluting the environment.

China has 46,377 glaciers with 18,311 located in Xinjiang. Xinjiang's glacier melt water takes about 25 to 30 percent of its surface run-off, and the thawing of the glaciers can have a disastrous effect on the region, according to Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The melting of the glacier should rings alarm bells to the whole world,according to David Molden, and all countries should take measures to reduce carbon emissions and save energy in the face of global warming.

Meanwhile, experts want the government to stop activities such as factory production, tourists' visiting, animal grazing and the excessive digging of the wild plants in the area.

Experts revealed that the related local government departments are considering building up a nature reserve in the area to protect the No. 1 glacier. (Xinhua)