Chistyakov , Kirill V., Ganyushkin, Dmitry A., Moskalenko, Igor G. and Dullo, Wolf-Christian (2011) The Glacier Complexes of the Mountain Massifs of the North-West of Inner Asia and their Dynamics. Geography, Environment, Sustainability, 4 (2). pp. 4-21. DOI 10.24057/2071-9388-2011-4-2-4-21.

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Abstract

The subject of this paper is
the glaciation of the mountain massifs
Mongun-Taiga, Tavan-Boghd-Ola, Turgeni-
Nuru, and Harhira-Nuru. The glaciation is
represented mostly by small forms that
sometimes form a single complex of domeshaped
peaks. According to the authors,
the modern glaciated area of the mountain
massifs is 21.2 km2 (Tavan-Boghd-Ola),
20.3 km2 (Mongun-Taiga), 42 km2 (Turgeni-
Nuru), and 33.1 km2 (Harhira-Nuru).
The area of the glaciers has been shrinking
since the mid 1960’s. In 1995–2008, the rate
of reduction of the glaciers’ area has grown
considerably: valley glaciers were rapidly
degrading and splitting; accumulation
of morainic material in the lower parts
of the glaciers accelerated. Small glaciers
transformed into snowfields and rock
glaciers. There has been also a degradation
of the highest parts of the glaciers and the
collapse of the glacial complexes with a
single zone of accumulation into isolated
from each other glaciers. Reduced snow
cover area has led to a rise in the firn
line and the disintegration of a common
accumulation area of the glacial complex.
In the of the Mongun-Taiga massif, in 1995–
2008, the firn line rose by 200–300 m. The
reduction of the glaciers significantly lagged
behind the change in the position of the
accumulation area boundary. In the past two
years, there has been a significant recovery
of the glaciers that could eventually lead to
their slower degradation or stabilization of
the glaciers in the study area.

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