Geomorphological processes and landforms of glacier forelands in the upper Aktru River basin (Gornyi Altai), Russia: evidence for rapid recent retreat and paraglacial adjustment

Abstract

The glaciers in the Aktru River basin of Gornyi Altai, Russia currently represent some of the fastest receding glaciers in the world. Formation of the morainic complexes closest to the contemporary glaciers in the Aktru River basin took place during the 17th -18th centuries with recession commencing at the end of the 18th century. Coupled with this glacial retreat, earth surface processes and vegetation succession are responding to shape the glacier forelands. This article presents the first geomorphological maps for the upper reaches of the Aktru River basin and focuses on the geomorphological landforms that occur in the rapidly changing glacier forelands. Geomorphological mapping is difficult in steep mountainous regions and, thus, mapping was completed using satellite imagery, field mapping and observations coupled with highresolution aerial photography obtained from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Critical steps of the procedure used to process UAV imagery and difficulties encountered in this mountainous terrain are noted. The acquired spatial data enable the mapping and classification of small-scale transient geomorphological features such as talus, glacial and glaciofluvial landforms. Their dynamics provide insights into supraglacial and subglacial processes of the glaciers of the Aktru River basin and subsequent paraglacial adjustment. The presented highresolution spatial data, which can also be obtained at high temporal resolutions in the future, can act as a reference frame for geomorphologists and ecologists studying the temporal evolution of glacier forelands of the Aktru River basin during paraglacial adjustment and subsequent colonisation and stabilisation by biota.

Intensified paraglacial slope failures due to accelerating downwasting of a temperate glacier in Mt. Gongga, southeastern Tibetan Plateau

“…Similar to other studies (Dunning et al, 2015;Glueer et al, 2020;Hedding et al, 2020), our analyses show a temporal and spatial component to PSF development following rapid deglaciation of the HLG. Following many thousands of annual thermo-hydromechanical loading cycles, which promote rock damage (Grämiger et al, 2017;Glueer et al, 2020), the bedrock slopes bordering HLG are well prepared for failure, and this response is beginning to manifest as specific triggering events occur and/or mechanical rock mass thresholds are crossed.…”

Application of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in Terrain Mapping: Systematic Literature Review

“…Another geomorphology study in Spark Lake in Jiuzhaigou, China was performed by using two UAV and equipping each of it with GPS and IMU to record output in the process of acquiring images (He et al, 2021). Lastly, in a geomorphological study in Aktru River basin, Gornyi Russia the UAV used is the multi-rotor DJI Mavic Pro model while the images were processed through Agisoft Photoscan Software package (Hedding et al, 2020).…”

Larch Forests on Fluvioglacial Deposits in the Severo-Chuisky Glaciation Center (The Russian Altai Mountains)

“…м. ), находящихся на разных уровнях относительно уреза воды за пределами зоны, подверженной значительным нарушениям, связанным с образованием поверхностных и грунтовых наледей и ежегодными миграциями русла реки [4,5,8].…”