Degradation of glaciers in Dzungarian (Zhetisu) Alatau in the second half of the XX century

Вилесов, Е. Н.; Северский, И. В.

doi:10.15356/2076-6734-2013-2-12-20

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…The range length is 450 km, the width fluctuates from 50 to 90 km, and the maximal height reaches up to 4622 m (Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky peak) (Figure 1). The total area of the Zhetysu Alatau mountain ridge, including the river basins of the Borotala Mountains in China, is about 40,000 km 2 [23]. It is located at 45 • N, within 79-82 • E. Its southern border is the Ile River, the northern one is the Balkhash Plain, and the northeastern one is the Alakol Lake and Dzhungar Gates.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The duration of the frost-free period in most of the territory is 123-161 days. Spring frosts stop mainly at the end of April (23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29), and the first autumn frosts in most areas are observed at the end of September and the beginning of October.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This problem is solved by monitoring modern glaciation, which should be carried out not for 1-2 "reference" glaciers of a mountainous country where field observations are carried out (an example is the well-known Tuyuksu glacier in the Ile Alatau), but for large glacial systems in general, numbering hundreds and thousands of glaciers. It is also necessary to assess the rate of reduction in ice reserves and the prospects for the existence of these systems in the near and distant future [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Accelerated Glacier Area Loss in the Zhetysu (Dzhungar) Alatau Range (Tien Shan) for the Period of 1956–2016

et al. 2023

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An updated glacier inventory is important for understanding the current glacier dynamics in the conditions of actual accelerating glacier retreat observed around the world. Here, we present a detailed analysis of the glaciation areas of the Zhetysu Alatau Range (Tien Shan) for 1956–2016 using well-established semiautomatic methods based on the band ratios. The total glacier area decreased by 49 ± 2.8% or by 399 ± 11.2 km2 from 813.6 ± 22.8 km2 to 414.6 ± 11.6 km2 during 1956–2016, while the number of glaciers increased from 985 to 813. Similar rates of area change characterized the periods 1956–2001, 2001–2012, 2012–2016, and 2001–2016: −296.2 ± 8.3 (−0.8% a−1), −63.7± 1.8 (−1.1% a−1), −39.1 ±1.1 (−2.2% a−1) and −102.8 ± 2.9 (−1.3% a−1) km2, respectively. The mean glacier size decreased from 0.57 km2 in 2001 to 0.51 km2 in 2016. Most glaciation areas of the Zhetysu Alatau faced north (north, northwest, and northeast), covered 390.35 ± 11 km2, and were located in altitudes between 3000 and 4000 m.a.s.l. With shrinkage rates of about −0.8% and −1.3% a−1 for the periods of 1956–2001 and 2001–2016, our results show that study area has the highest shrinkage rate compared to other glacierized areas of Central Asian mountains, including Altai, Pamir, and even the inner ranges of Tien Shan. It was found that a significant increase in temperature (0.12 °C/10 years) plays a main role in the state of glaciers.

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Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%