Glacier shape factors (area, length and thickness), climate factors (air temperature and precipitation), mass balance and other influencing factors of the Qiyi Glacier and their influencing intensity during 1958-2007 were analyzed with the application of the path analysis method. Results indicate that glacier flow velocity is mainly influenced by the glacier shape, and then the mass balance and the climate condition. Among all the influencing factors, glacier area and thickness are the most significant ones, the direct and indirect path coefficients were 6.56, 4.71, 19.29 and 13.57, respectively. The research provides references for further understanding the glacier flow velocity and its influencing factors.

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