HR: 0830h
AN: C11B-0815    [PDF]
TI: Glacier Evolution in the Altai Mountains, South-West Siberia, for the Last Half Century (with use of Geo-Informational Catalogue)
AU: * Surazakov, A B
EM: sura7359@uidaho.edu
AF: University of Idaho, Department of Geography, College of Science, P.O. 443025, Moscow, ID 83844-3025 United States
AU: Narojniy, Y K
EM: aktrunar@ggf.tsu.ru
AF: Tomsk State University, Department of Geology and Geography, 36 Lenina str.,, Tomsk, 634050 Russian Federation
AU: Nikitin, S A
EM: nikitin@ic.tsu.ru
AF: Tomsk State University, Department of Geology and Geography, 36 Lenina str.,, Tomsk, 634050 Russian Federation
AU: Aizen, V B
EM: aizen@uidaho.edu
AF: University of Idaho, Department of Geography, College of Science, P.O. 443025, Moscow, ID 83844-3025 United States
AB: To systemize and analyze the information for the period from 1835 to present on altitudinal distributions of glaciers, exposition, their numbers and surface areas in basins, volumes, genetic classification, location of lower and upper level of glaciers, average firn line position and main morphometric characteristics, DataBase on glacier dynamics in the Altai Mountains (AGDB) has been developed in ArcGIS Format [Tomsk State University, Russia]. Data from Glacier Catalogue [1962], topographic maps with the scale of 1:25000 and 1:50000 and air photos, which fixed glaciers' state on 1952, were digitized. Instrumental observational data on glacier tongue retreat from twenty glaciers since 1835, and radio-echo sounding measurements of 120 glacier volumes were also digitized in the AGDB. Modern state of Altai glaciers and their changes since 1952 were assessed from Resurs space images and partially from instrumental observations. Based on estimation from Resurs for the period from 1952 to 1998, the value of Altai glacier retreating was about 56.9 km2, i.e. 7.1 % of total area, varied from 4 % for valley glaciers to 16 % for glaciers of flat mountain tops. Retreat of 2-8 m per year was accompanied by their 10% mass loss. The slightest degradation occurred in inner (central) part of the glacier system, in the heads of river basins with large-scale glaciation, e.g., in the Katunski, Nothern-Chuiski and Southern-Chuiski ranges, amounting to 6.3%. These are the highest regions, reaching up to 4506 m., and 80% of Altai's glaciers are located there. In the river basins with relatively small-glacierized areas, at the peripheral regions, e.g., Kurai, Chihacheva ranges, the degradation reached its maximum values up to 22%.
DE: 1640 Remote sensing
DE: 1827 Glaciology (1863)
DE: 1833 Hydroclimatology
DE: 3309 Climatology (1620)
DE: 9320 Asia
SC: Cryosphere [C]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting