The glacier feeds five proglacial lakes, including the milky-turquoise Tso Karpo (pH 7.1–7.4), formed by meltwater enriched with glacial flour.
[3] The glacier's basal sliding velocity peaks at 12 cm/day in summer, monitored by 15 GPS stakes installed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Endemic species include the ice worm (Mesenchytraeus solifugus gawalongensis) and cushion plant Arenaria glacialis.
[4][5] UNESCO's Third Pole Environment program conducts ice core drilling here, revealing 800-year climate records.
Access requires permits from Tibet's Forestry Department, with annual visitor limits of 300 to prevent microplastic contamination.