{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.03620178041543027, 'fraction_numerical': 0.01543026706231454, 'mean_word_length': 4.73469387755102, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Characteristics of cryoconite holes on a Himalayan glacier, Yala Glacier Central Nepal

Cryoconite holes, water-filled cylindrical melt-holes on ice, are common features of glaciers. Morphology, distribution, stability, and organisms of cryoconite holes on a Himalayan glacier (Yala Glacier, Langtang region of Nepal) were investigated. On this glacier, cryoconite holes were distributed in the bare-ice area from 5110 m to 5240 m a.s.l. in altitude. Their size ranged 3.0 - 12.0 cm in depth (mean 5.3 cm), 1.0-36.0 cm in diameter (mean 7.0 cm). At flat bottom of the holes, dark colored mud -like material (cryoconite) was deposited. The material contained much filamentous blue-green algae and organic matter. Besides the blue-green algae, green algae, copepods, and insect larvae were found in the holes. Twenty-five days observation of 17 holes revealed that cryoconite holes on this glacier were short -lived and unstable; 13 holes were broken during the observation period. Hole-depth increased as albedo of the ice surface surrounding the holes increased by snowfall. Altitudinal increase of hole -depth and relationship between hole-depth and heat balance at the glacier surface, both of which have been reported on glaciers of other region, were not observed in this glacier. Negative correlation between hole-diameter and surface inclination suggests that life span of the holes on steep slopes is shorter than those on gentle slopes. Results suggest that cryoconite holes of this glacier were shallow and unstable because albedo of the glacier surface was reduced by much dark-colored material and it could drastically change by snow falls and/or relocation of the material.