RECENT CHANGE OF GLACIERS OF THE NORTHEASTERN ASIA AND PROJECTION FOR THE FUTURE

Abstract

Paper presents the results of comparative analysis of the satellite images data about the glacier state in glacier systems of Byrranga, Suntar-Khayata, and Chersky ranges (2003) with the data given in the Glacier Inventory of the USSR (1945, 1967 and 1970). We studied change of glacier area since the Glacier inventory compilation, which was based mainly on areal-photo and visual services with the satellite (LANDSAT) images data. The retreated glaciers have been analyzed by groups, sorted by the same aspect and morphological type of a glacier in terms of the rate of reduction. In total glacierization of Chersky Range reduced by about 30% (1970–2003), Suntar-Khayata by 20% (1945–2003), Byrranga—by 17% (1967–2003).The method for projection of glacier systems development in 2049–60 is applied for NE Asia Mountains using the ECHAM 4,5 and some other climatic scenarios. We have considered continental glacier systems (Suntar-Khayata, Chersky, Orulgan) and temperate-marine ones (Kamchatka). The method involves construction of vertical balance profiles for baseline and projected period, hypsographic schemes of ice distribution via altitude in a glacier system. The results of the method application to the glacier systems of the NE Asia are discussed in the paper.

Keywords

• glacier system
• ela
• glacier area
• glacier termini
• balance
• model
• climate change
• climatic scenario
• northeastern siberia
• projection