Coğrafi Bilimler Dergisi (Apr 2016)
Çinaçor Glaciers (Tatos Mauntains, Rize-Erzurum, Turkey)
Abstract
One of the most important glaciated areas within the Republic of Turkey’s borders is a region located in the mountains of the eastern Black Sea. This glacial region has become a significant location for the conducting of research on glaciers and glaciation. The importance of this glacial region results from its cold climate as well as its elevation which was effected by the Pleistocene epoch and also which currently influences the conditions on adjacent peaks of the eastern part of the North Anatolian Mountains also covered by glaciers. Changes in the current climate conditions, such as, increased air temperatures has caused some glaciers in valley’s to not exceed 10 kilometres in size and other glaciers less-than 2000 metres to more-or-less disappear. What remains is enormous glacier topography and, as a result, the remarkable topography of the North Anatolian Mountains has been subject to multiple glacial morphology investigations. A majority of the research has been concentrated on the north-facing slopes of the highest peaks; Verçenik Mountain (3709 m) and Kaçkar Mountain (3932 m); however, one of the most tangible signs to date of the existence of the glaciers in this region was obtained by L. Krenek in 1931with the discovery of two small glaciers located between peaks in the Tatos Mountains (3550 m) and the south Kaçkar’s peaks. Subsequently, findings featured in research literature over the years have misattributed the name and location of the glacier defined as “Krenek I” which has led to considerable confusion. As a result, the purpose of this study is to eliminate confusion surrounding the name and location of the glacier as well as reveal its current status according to on-going research. The field studies discussed in this research provide important contributions towards solving problems related to identifying the glacier in question as well as have revealed a need for further detailed observations and research to be carried out in these areas.
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