Azaubashi Glacier Fragmenting, Mount Elbrus, Russia

On May 15, 2017April 29, 2024 By mspeltoIn Caucasus Glacier retreat

Azaubashi Glacier and Azau Glacier (A) in 1985 Landsat and 2016 Sentinel Image. Orange arrows indicate particular areas of fragmentation and bedrock expansion. Pink arrows indicate connection with Azau Glacier the terminus of which in 1985 is at red arrow and in 2016 is at yellow arrow.

Azaubashi Glacier is on the southwest side of Mount Elbrus, Caucasus Mountains of Russia, merging with the Greater Azau Glacier. The glacier drains east from Gora Azaubashi (3600 m). The glacier is west of the ski complex at Prielbrusye, that has lifts from Azau at 2300 m to Krugozor at 3000 m and Mir at 3500 m. Shahgedanova et al (2014) report glaciers on the mountain experienced a 5% loss in area from 1999-2012, with the Azaubashi Glacier losing a much higher percentage.

Azaubashi Glacier and Azau Glacier (A) in 1998 and 2013 Landsat Images. Orange arrows indicate particular areas of fragmentation and bedrock expansion. Pink arrows indicate connection with Azau Glacier the terminus of which in 1985 is at red arrow and in 2016 is at yellow arrow.

Here we examine Landsat images from 1985 to 2016 to quantify the substantial change. In 1985 the glacier extends north from Azaubashi to join with glaciers on the upper slopes of Elbrus in a 4 km continuous sweep. At Arrow 1 and 2 the glacier is continuous and extends at least 800 m from top to bottom. At Arrow 3 the glacier connection with Azau Glacier is extensive. At Arrow 4 the glacier extends to the ridge. By 1998 At Arrow 1 a bedrock arrow has nearly separated the glacier. At Arrow 2 the glacier remains at least 700 m from top to bottom. The connection between Azaubashi and Azau Glacier remains extensive. At Arrow 4 the glacier extends to the ridge. By 2013, the bedrock exposed at Arrow 1 is 300 m wide. At Arrow 2 the glacier is nearly severed with a connection of just 300 m. At Arrow 3 the connection between glaciers is now discontinuous and tenuous. At Arrow 4 the glacier no longer extends to the ridgeline, The snowline on the south side of Mount Elbrus is at 3700 m. In 2016 the main change is the continued disconnection between Azaubashi Glacier and Azau Glacier, the connection that in 1985 was 1500 m long is now just 500 m long. The glacier will soon be split into three sections. The glacier did not retain any snowcover in 2016, in 1998 and 2013 less than 10% of the glacier retained snowcover. The snowline in 2016 was at 3700 m on Aug. 28th. This indicates a glacier that cannot survive current climate as it lacks a consistent significant accumulation zone. The retreat from 1985 to 2016 of the Azau Glacier noted at the red and yellow arrows has been 650 m. The Azau Glacier still has an extensive accumulation zone. TheAzaubashi Glacier is similar to the Dzhikiugankez Glacier in losing mass across nearly its entire surface.

Azaubashi Glacier in 2009 Google Earth image. Orange arrows indicate particular areas of fragmentation and bedrock expansion. Pink arrows indicate connection with Azau Glacier, blue arrows indicate two small lakes developing in previously glacier covered areas.

Dzhikiugankez Glacier Poised to Melt Away, Mount Elbrus, Russia.

On April 20, 2015May 3, 2024 By mspeltoIn Caucasus Glacier retreat, glacier climate change, Glacier Observations

Dzhikiugankez Glacier (Frozen Lake) is a large glacier on the northeast side of Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain in the Caucasus Range. The primary portion of the glacier indicated in the map of the region does not extend to the upper mountain, the adjoining glacier extending to the submit is the Kynchyr Syrt Glacier. The glacier is 5 km long extending from 4000 m to 3200 m. Shahgedanova et al (2014) examined changes in Mount Elbrus glaciers from 1999-2012 and found a 5% area loss in this short period and accelerated retreat from the 1987-2000 period. As examination of Landsat images indicates Dzhikiugankez Glacier has the lowest percent of overall snowcover, as seen in the satellite image from August 2013 with the transient snow line shown in purple. The amount of blue ice is apparent on Dzhikiugankez Glacier (D). The main changes in this glacier are not at the terminus, but along the lateral margins, indicating substantial vertical and lateral thinning. Here we examine Landsat imagery from 1985 to 2013 to identify changes. In each image the red arrow indicates bedrock on the western margin, the yellow arrow bedrock on the eastern margin, Point A an area of glacier ice extending to the upper eastern margin, the purple arrow a medial moraine exposed by retreat and the green arrow the 1985 terminus of the glacier.

Map of northeastern side of Mount Elbrus, summit on left. Dzhikiugankez Glacier (Dzhikaugenkjoz) is outlined in black.

August 2013 Satellite image of Mount Elbrus

Google Earth image 2013

In 1985 the glacier connects beneath the subsidiary rock peak at the red arrow, a tongue of ice extends on the east side of the rock rib at the yellow arrow, Point A. The transient snow line is at 3550 m and less than 30% of the glacier is snowcovered. The medial moraine at the purple arrow is just beyond the glacier terminus. In 1999 the subsidiary peak is still surrounded by ice and the tongue of ice at Point A though smaller is still evident. The snowline is quite high extending to 3750 m, leaving only 10-15% of the glacier snowcovered. In 2001 the main terminus has retreated from the green arrow. A strip of rock extends up to the red arrow. The snowline is at 3500 m, with a month of melting left. In 2013 a wide zone of bare rock extends up to the subsidiary peak at the red arrow. The medial moraine, purple arrow is exposed all the way to its origin near the red arrow. In 2013 the tongue of ice at Point A, is gone. This glacier is retreating faster on its lateral margins as at the terminus, a 20% reduction between red and yellow arrows from 1985 to 2013. The snowline is at 3600 m, with several weeks of the melt season left. The key problem for the Dzhikiugankez Glacier is that there is an insufficient persistent accumulation zone. Pelto (2010) noted that a glacier cannot survive without a persistent and consistent accumulation zone, which Dzhikiugankez Glacier lacks despite being on the flanks of Mount Elbrus. Retreat of this glacier is similar to Azau Glacier, particularly the west slope of this glacier, and Irik Glacier. Unlike these glaciers it cannot survive current climate. The glacier is large and the glacier will not disappear quickly. Shahgedanova et al (2014) note the expansion of bare rock areas adjacent to glaciers on the south side of Mount Elbrus including Azau and Garabashi.

1985 Landsat image

1999 Landsat image

2001 Landsat image

2013 Landsat image

Greater Azau Glacier, Mount Elbrus, Russia

On November 10, 2013 By mspeltoIn Caucasus Glacier retreat2 Comments

Greater Azau Glacier is on the south slopes of Mount Elbrus, Caucasus Mountains of Russia. The glacier is just west of the ski complex at Prielbrusye, that has lifts from Azau at 2300 m to Krugozor at 3000 m and Mir at 3500 m. This glacier like others on Mount Elbrus and in the Caucasus Mountains is retreating. Russian Academy of Sciences remapping of the glaciers on the mountain indicate a 15% loss in area from 1911 to 1957 and 7% loss from 1957-2000.
2013 Landsat of Mount Elbrus and its glaciers.

2009 Google Earth image of Azau Glacier.

In 1998 the glacier descended to an elevation of 2650 m ending at the yellow arrow. The pink arrow indicates a knob adjacent to the 2013 terminus. The red arrows indicate the length of the connection of the slope glacier to the west of the main valley tongue of the Azau Glacier, it is 1 km. The orange arrows indicates a thin connection between two segments of the upper glacier on the western slopes above Azau Glacier. IN 2001 the terminus has retreated a short distance from 1998. By 2013 the terminus has retreated 450 m to just beneath the knob at the pink arrow, 30 m per year. The terminus is now at 2850 meters. The glacier on the western slopes has separated at the orange arrow and the connection at the red arrows has been reduced to 200 meters from 1000 meters in 1998. A close up view of the terminus in 2009 indicates that it is still just downvalley of the prominent knob. Only the lower 300 m of the glacier is uncrevassed, above this point active crevassing is widespread. The Krugozor Ski Station is also noted. This glacier is retreating faster now than during the 1957-2000 period like the Irik Glacier to the east on Mount Elbrus. This likewise is the pattern of retreat observed elsewhere in the Caucasus at Gora Bashkara,Kirtisho Glacier and Lednik Karaugom Glacier. The glacier still has an extensive accumulation zone.

1998 Landsat image