3 research outputs found
Glacier reaction to temperature and precipitation change in Central Caucasus, 2001–2010
No full textThis paper examines changes in surface area and terminus retreat of glaciers in the Greater Caucasus Mountains between 2001 and 2010 using ASTER imagery. The use of consistent high-resolution imagery such as ASTER significantly reduces uncertainties in measurements of glacier shrinkage and retreat and enables assessments at decadal intervals which are important for both scientists and regional decision-makers. Two ASTER images acquired on 15 September 2001 and 29 September 2010 covering central sector of the Greater Caucasus Ridge and the Elbrus glaciated massif were used for glacier mapping. Outlines of 179 glaciers were mapped of which 108 glaciers are located on the northern macroslope of the Greater Caucasus and on Mt Elbrus in the Baksan River catchment (Russia) and 71 are located on the southern macroslope in the Inguri River catchment (Georgia). In total, glaciers lost 5% of their area. Glacier wastage was higher in the Inguri catchment at 5.6%; in the Baksan catchment, glaciers lost 4.3% of their area. Termini positions of 28 valley glaciers were measured on ASTER and aerial photographs to compare rates of glacier retreat in 2001–2010 and 1987–2001.The rate of this recession increased, this fact confirmed by field studies in Baksan basin. Glacier mass balance observations at Garabashi glacier indicate strong reduction in cumulative mass balance since 1998 providing further evidence on glacier wastage. The observed shrinkage of Caucasus glaciers is mainly connected with increasing in summer temperatures.Increase in precipitation has not compensated for an increase in temperature between 1987–2001 and 2001–2010 periods
Реакция ледников Центрального Кавказа в 2001–2010 гг. на изменения температуры и количества осадков
Get PDFThis paper examines changes in surface area and terminus retreat of glaciers in the Greater Caucasus Mountains between 2001 and 2010 using ASTER imagery. The use of consistent high-resolution imagery such as ASTER significantly reduces uncertainties in measurements of glacier shrinkage and retreat and enables assessments at decadal intervals which are important for both scientists and regional decision-makers. Two ASTER images acquired on 15 September 2001 and 29 September 2010 covering central sector of the Greater Caucasus Ridge and the Elbrus glaciated massif were used for glacier mapping. Outlines of 179 glaciers were mapped of which 108 glaciers are located on the northern macroslope of the Greater Caucasus and on Mt Elbrus in the Baksan River catchment (Russia) and 71 are located on the southern macroslope in the Inguri River catchment (Georgia). In total, glaciers lost 5% of their area. Glacier wastage was higher in the Inguri catchment at 5.6%; in the Baksan catchment, glaciers lost 4.3% of their area. Termini positions of 28 valley glaciers were measured on ASTER and aerial photographs to compare rates of glacier retreat in 2001–2010 and 1987–2001.The rate of this recession increased, this fact confirmed by field studies in Baksan basin. Glacier mass balance observations at Garabashi glacier indicate strong reduction in cumulative mass balance since 1998 providing further evidence on glacier wastage. The observed shrinkage of Caucasus glaciers is mainly connected with increasing in summer temperatures.Increase in precipitation has not compensated for an increase in temperature between 1987–2001 and 2001–2010 periods. Оценено изменение размеров ледников Центрального Кавказа с 2001 по 2010 г. Для количественной оценки сокращения площади ледников Центрального Кавказа в бассейнах рек Баксан и Ингури за этот период использованы материалы повторной космической съёмки. В среднем эта величина составила 5%. По сравнению с предыдущим периодом наблюдений (1987–2001 гг.) средняя скорость отступания языков ледников увеличилась. Причины сокращения площади ледников анализировались на основе данных непрерывного многолетнего ряда балансовых наблюдений на леднике Гарабаши (Эльбрус), а также материалов наблюдений за изменениями температуры и количества осадков на метеостанции Терскол. Сокращение размеров оледенения хорошо коррелирует с ростом летних температур в высокогорье Кавказа, несмотря на увеличение количества зимних осадков
ИЗМЕНЕНИЕ ЛЕДНИКОВОЙ СИСТЕМЫ АЛТАЯ С СЕРЕДИНЫ ХХ СТОЛЕТИЯ И ВОЗМОЖНАЯ РЕАКЦИЯ НА ПОТЕПЛЕНИЕ КЛИМАТА В БУДУЩЕМ
No full textCharacteristics of the Altai glacier system are analyzed on the data from Chinese and Former Soviet Union glacier inventories. Two glacier data sets, recent remote sensing data and the glacier inventories data were compared. It has been found that 208 glaciers disappeared and the glacial area decreased by 12%. Functional models of the glacier system variations have been developed using the equation of relationship between an annual glacier ablation and a mean summer temperature; the glacier system structure and behavior of the equilibrium line altitudes at the steady state were taken into account as well. The models were used to study response of the glacial runoff to a climatic change. The model results show that, under the climate warming scenario of 0.05°С/year, only 3% Altai glaciers inChinaand 9% inRussiawill remain by the end of this century
