Dynamics of mountain glaciation in the South-Eastern Siberia over the past 160 years

Abstract

Changes in areas of glaciers in three South-East Siberian mountainous regions (East Sayan, Baikalsky and Kodar ridges) had been analyzed for the period since end of Little Ice Age (LIA) to the present time (about 160 years). It was determined that since the end of LIA area of these glaciers reduced, on the aver- age, by 59% (or 0.37% per a year), and their termini retreated by 550 m (3.5 m/year). At the second half of 20th century deglaciation in mountains of South- Eastern Siberia proceeded more intensive than in other Siberian regions.

Keywords

• climate change
• east siberia
• glacier fluctuations
• little ice age