The fresh water lack in Central Asian countries with fast-growing population is one of the most critical problems in this region, where runoff of most rivers closely depends on supply of glaciers melting water. However, the impact of glacier shrinkage on the river runoff remains poorly understood. In this paper, we took the Karatal river basin, Tien Shan, as a model for investigation interrelation between dramatic decreasing of glaciers (−1 % annually) and river runoff. We investigated long-term observed climatic and runoff data for different sub-basins of the river, having various glaciated area and used non-parametric Mann-Kendall test for our analyses. Analyzing weather station climatic data, we found a significant increase in temperature and quite stable trends for precipitation during study period. Positive trends in annual discharge were detected in almost all glacierized tributaries of Karatal river. This obvious upward trend in river runoff is likely connected with a general trend of increasing temperatures and intensive melting of glaciers in Tien Shan.

ABSTRACT. We investigated glacier changes in the). This very high shrinkage rate is likely connected with a general trend of increasing temperatures, and small glaciers being situated at the relatively low altitude of the outer Zhetysu Alatau ranges. We also analyzed the shrinkage rate of glaciers based on their differences in size, altitude and aspect of slopes, as well as other topographic parameters, in four sub-basins where glacier shrinkage varied between 18% and 39%. Weather-station climate data showed a significant temperature increase and stable precipitation trends over the study period. We conclude that glacierized areas of the Karatal river basin are located in the most unfavorable conditions for glaciation, and as a result showed a higher shrinkage rate than other glacierized areas of the Tien Shan from 1956 to 2012.

Dust/sand storm is a common phenomenon in arid and semi-arid regions of Kazakhstan, especially in its southern parts, where areas are covered by a great variety of deserts and are a powerful source of mineral and salt aerosols. We considered the long-term meteorological data and satellite images on dust storms recurrence and their regional division in Kazakhstan. On the basis of generalization and analyses of the numerous cartographic materials, meteorological observations and satellite images, we identified seats of the powerful sources of dust/sand/salt storms. We found areas in Kazakhstan with the highest frequency of dust storms. These are Pre-Aral Karakum and Aralkum deserts; Kyzylkum and Moiynkum deserts; Ryn sands (northern Caspian plain); and southern Pre-Balkhash deserts. The most active source of dust storms is located in sandy deserts or in areas, which have suffered from human activity. Dust storms have a great negative impact on soil conditions and they are particularly dangerous for the environment.