Search

The estimation of glaciers of the Suntar-Khayata Mountains (the Northeastern Siberia) in the context of previously published data is presented. Under the background of current warming the glaciers in this region retreat enough quickly, they decrease not only in a real size, but also by the ice thickness. In this paper the mean summer temperature and solid precipitation of the key factors for glaciation, which indicate unfavorable conditions for the glacier existence at present time are presented as spatial distribution of trends (for 45 years, until 2012). The glaciers of the northern massif of the Suntar-Khayata have a negative ice mass balance as their entire surface is below the equilibrium line altitude. Mean thickness of superimposed ice on the glaciers of this massif was about 17 cm. Based on the assumption of climate variation in the Northern Pacific data it is suggested about the beginning of more favorable climatic conditions for the Suntar-Khayata glaciers.

Residual strength and diameters of lichen Rhizocarpon sp. were measured on different elements of the Late Holocene glacial-cryogenic morphosculpture of frontal parts of glaciers № 29 and 31 in the Suntar-Khayat Range. All in all, 180 lichenometric sites (about 1000 individual measurements of Rhizocarpon sp.) and 150 sites for testing the residual strength of rebound value were organized, on which 380 estimations of this parameter (5674 individual measurements) were performed. For lichenometric index of age (minimal time of exposure) we used statistics RH5 that was a mean value from five maximal individuals on a local site; for index of rebound value Q that was a mean value from 80-100 unit measurements on the same site was taken. Using of data obtained at different times by aerospace surveys made it possible to derive the relationship between the RH5 statistics and time t of the morphosculptures exposure: RH5 = 0.0535t + 0.29. On the basis of regression coefficients of RH5 and Q indexes the equation RH5 = 69209e-0,136Q had been deduced as well as the equation connecting residual strength (rebound value) Q and time t of surface exposure: t = (69209e-0,136Qvalue– 0,29)/0,0535. Basing on the equations above, age of the moraine belts of the above glaciers was estimated. The most developed moraine belt, now placed apart from the present-day glacier edges at a distance of 600–700 m, was found to be formed for the whole Little Ice Age. Glaciers reached their maximum volumes during its first phase, i.e. during cold period of 13-15th centuries. Area of glacierization exceeded its current size by 35–40%. Glaciers remained at their almost steady state until middle of 19th century and then began to retreat slowly. By middle of 20th century, glaciers shortened by 5–7%. The most intensive shrinking of these glaciers started in the second half of 20th century.

Arctic glaciers comprise a small fraction of the world’s land ice area, but their ongoing mass loss currently represents a large cryospheric contribution to the sea level rise. In the Suntar-Khayata Mountains (SKMs) of northeastern Siberia, in situ measurements of glacier surface mass balance (SMB) are relatively sparse, limiting our understanding of the spatiotemporal patterns of regional mass loss. Here, we present SMB time series for all glaciers in the SKMs, estimated through a glacier SMB model. Our results yielded an average SMB of −0.22 m water equivalents (w.e.) year−1 for the whole region during 1951−2011. We found that 77.4% of these glaciers had a negative mass balance and detected slightly negative mass balance prior to 1991 and significantly rapid mass loss since 1991. The analysis suggests that the rapidly accelerating mass loss was dominated by increased surface melting, while the importance of refreezing in the SMB progressively decreased over time. Projections under two future climate scenarios confirmed the sustained rapid shrinkage of these glaciers. In response to temperature rise, the total present glacier area is likely to decrease by around 50% during the period 2071−2100 under representative concentration pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5).

Arctic glaciers comprise a small fraction of the world's land ice area, but their ongoing mass loss currently represents a large cryospheric contribution to the sea level rise. In the Suntar-Khayata Mountains (SKMs) of northeastern Siberia, in situ measurements of glacier surface mass balance (SMB) are relatively sparse, limiting our understanding of the spatiotemporal patterns of regional mass loss. Here, we present SMB time series for all glaciers in the SKMs, estimated through a glacier SMB model. Our results yielded an average SMB of −0.22 m water equivalents (w.e.) year−1 for the whole region during 1951–2011. We found that 77.4% of these glaciers had a negative mass balance and detected slightly negative mass balance prior to 1991 and significantly rapid mass loss since 1991. The analysis suggests that the rapidly accelerating mass loss was dominated by increased surface melting, while the importance of refreezing in the SMB progressively decreased over time. Projections under two future climate scenarios confirmed the sustained rapid shrinkage of these glaciers. In response to temperature rise, the total present glacier area is likely to decrease by around 50% during the period 2071–2100 under representative concentration pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]