Association between atmospheric circulation patterns and firn‐ice core records from the Inilchek glacierized area, central Tien Shan, Asia

Abstract

[1] Glacioclimatological research in the central Tien Shan was performed in the summers of 1998 and 1999 on the South Inilchek Glacier at 5100-5460 m. A 14.36 m firn-ice core and snow samples were collected and used for stratigraphic, isotopic, and chemical analyses. The firn-ice core and snow records were related to snow pit measurements at an event scale and to meteorological data and synoptic indices of atmospheric circulation at annual and seasonal scales. Linear relationships between the seasonal air temperature and seasonal isotopic composition in accumulated precipitation were established. Changes in the d18 O air temperature relationship, in major ion concentration and in the ratios between chemical species, were used to identify different sources of moisture and investigate changes in atmospheric circulation patterns. Precipitation over the central Tien Shan is characterized by the lowest ionic content among the Tien Shan glaciers and indicates its mainly marine origin. In seasons of minimum precipitation, autumn and winter, water vapor was derived from the arid and semiarid regions in central Eurasia and contributed annual maximal solute content to snow accumulation in Tien Shan. The lowest content of major ions was observed in spring and summer layers, which represent maximum seasonal accumulation when moisture originates over the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean and Black Seas.

Seasonal Variability and Evolution of Glaciochemistry at An Alpine Temperate Glacier on the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau

“…With regard to the available spatial coverage of snow, snowpacks, and ice records, the data on ionic records is, as yet, inadequate to document climate and environmental changes over the vast Asian continent [9]. Mt.…”

“…Data available from studies that have utilized the precipitation, snow, and ice chemistry have contributed to our understanding of environmental signals from different regions of the globe [14][15][16][17][18][19]. Detailed stratigraphic records of the ionic composition in snowpacks not only reflect the condition of atmospheric deposition and climatic conditions but also provide important information for studying ice core records [9]. Therefore, the characteristics of the chemical content of snow, as well as its distribution and evolution in snowpacks on glaciers, are of high significance.…”

“…Analysis of the chemical composition of snow and ice is one of the most important areas in glaciology [1][2][3]. Specifically, environmental chemistry provides a valuable tool for better understanding the sources of atmospheric aerosols [4][5][6], atmosphere circulation [7][8][9], and past climatic and environmental changes [10,11]. Snowmelt-dominated environments of high altitude are sensitive to variations in chemical composition of atmospheric deposition, which is critical in understanding regional air pollution and its effects on hydrologic systems [12,13].…”

Biological proxies recorded in a Belukha ice core, Russian Altai

“…It takes into account the diversity of the circulation processes during all seasons for the study area, including rare ones coming from the east. Therefore, the use of this classification for the Altai region is preferable relative to other regional classifications of macrocirculation processes (Popova, 1972;Narozhnyi et al, 1993;Subbotina, 1995;Aizen et al, 2004Aizen et al, , 2005Aizen et al, , 2006. In our work we used a daily calendar of successive change of ECMs (Kononova, 2009) and daily data on precipitation from the Kara-Tyurek weather station for calculating the contribution of each from 41 EMCs to annual (or seasonal) precipitation for the period 1964-2000.…”

Statistical Characteristics of Mudflows in the Piedmont Areas of Uzbekistan and the Role of Synoptic Processes for their Formation

“…After a decade, researchers had summarised the studies on the atmospheric circulation classification scheme for CA and had published it as a fundamental monograph, describing the main atmospheric patterns as 11 SWT over CA (Bugayev et al, 1957). This monograph is still being used as the main literature study and guidelines on synoptic conditions in Central Asian countries mainly in Uzbekistan (personal experience, Aizen et al (2004)). 20 During the investigation period between 1984 and 2013, there were more than 300 days with mudflow occurrences in Uzbekistan.…”