Лëд и снег (Aug 2020)
Modern glaciation of Kamchatka
Abstract
Modern glaciation of the Kamchatka includes 643 glaciers with a total area 769,48±48,34 km2. The variety of combinations of macrorelief, climate and volcanic factors in Kamchatka has led to uneven distribution of glaciation throughout the peninsula and large variability of its characteristics in different areas. Corrie glaciers(31,3 %)and corrie-valley glaciers(12,8 %)quantitatively prevail in Kamchatka. The largest areas are occupied by transection glaciers(26,6 % or204,42±7,56 km2) and corrie-valley glaciers(16,5 % or126,78±9,77 km2). The average size of the Kamchatka glaciers is 1,2 km2. However, it changes from 0,7km2 in non-volcanic areas to 2,87km2 in areas of active volcanism. The share of the largest (>5 km2)glaciers in the total numberand area is maximum (10,9 and67,1 % respectively) in areas of active volcanism, and minimum (2,2and21,6 % respectively) in non-volcanic areas. In contrast, the proportion of small (0,1–0,5 km2)glaciers in the total numberand area is maximum (55,1and18,7 % respectively) in non-volcanic areas, and minimum (20,7and156 % respectively) in areas of active volcanism. In the glaciation areas of Kamchatka of various types, the prevalence of various morphological types of glaciers is observed. Transectionglaciers occupy the largest areas in areas of active volcanism (33,7 % or 89,03±2,26 km2)and non-volcanic areas (31,8 % or41,45±2,04km2). In areas of quaternary volcanism the area there is predominance of thecorrie-valleyglaciers area(24,3 % or91,09±7,04km2). The most diverse morphological types of glaciers in areas of active volcanism. The largest share in the area of glaciation of Kamchatka is formed by western (24,7 %), southwestern (22,3 %) and eastern (20 %) exposure glaciers. Also observed is the quantitative prevalence of western (23 %), northwestern (20,7 %) and eastern (15,1 %)exposure glaciers. The greatest vertical extent and average heights are characteristic of glaciers in areas of active volcanism, the smallest – in non-volcanic areas.
