The Glacier Inventory Dataset of the Qilian Mountains for the Period 2018–2019

The Qilian Mountains are located in the arid region of northwestern China and represent a vital ecological functional zone in this area. Glaciers in the Qilian Mountains, as the primary source of freshwater, play a crucial role in regulating the regional water cycle, maintaining ecological balance, and supporting socio-economic activities across the region. Against the backdrop of global warming, glaciers in this region have exhibited a clear trend of retreat. However, the glacier inventory data from China's First and Second National Glacier Inventories are relatively outdated and no longer accurately reflect the current state of glacier changes in the area. This study utilized high-resolution satellite imagery from 2018-2019, including data from the Gaofen series (Gaofen-1, Gaofen-2, and Gaofen-6), Ziyuan-3, and Landsat 8, as primary data sources. Glacier boundaries were delineated through visual interpretation, and relevant attributes were supplemented based on the GLIMS (Global Land Ice Measurements from Space) coding scheme. The final product is the Glacier Inventory Dataset of the Qilian Mountains for the period 2018-2019. The results show that a total of 2797 modern glaciers are distributed across the Qilian Mountains, with a combined area of 1489.53 km². This dataset provides valuable support for studies related to glacier change and associated environmental processes in the Qilian Mountain region.