Dzhikiugankez Glacier, Russia Persistent Limited Retained Snowpack 2013-2020

On July 25, 2020April 24, 2024 By mspeltoIn Caucasus Glacier retreat, russia glacier retreat

Dzhikiugankez Glacier in 1985 and 2020 Landsat images with the snowline shown by purple dots. A tributary at Point A has disappeared and tributary at the red arrow has separated. Thinning and marginal retreat is emphasized by blue and green arrows.

Dzhikiugankez Glacier (Frozen Lake) is a large glacier on the northeast side of Mount Elbrus, 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 of Elbrus glaciers from 1999-2012 and found a 5% area loss in this short period, with accelerattion retreat from the 1987-2000 period. Of the glaciers on Elbrus over 10 km² in area Dzhikiugankez Glacier experienced a high rate of reduction, the relative loss was 27% between 1960 and 2014 (Tielidze and Wheate, 2018). This is driven by a persistent lack of retained snowcover, here we examine Landsat imagery to illustrate that. This post is inspired by the frequent imagery of Caucasus glacier change posted on Twitter by @LevanTielidze.

In 2018 the transient snowline near the end of the melt season is at 3900 m, leaving less than 10% of the glacier snowcovered. In 2019 the transient snowline is at 3800 m near the end of the melt season leaving 10-15% of the glacier snowcovered. In mid-July 2020 the transient snowline is already at 3600 m with at least 6 weeks left in the melt season. It is evident from the Landsat images from the 2013 to 2020 period that Dzhikiugankez Glacier consistently has the lowest percent of overall snowcover on Elbrus and too small of an accumulation zone to persist. The limited snowcover and glacier separation in also seen at Azaubashi Glacier on Mount Elbrus

Dzhikiugankez Glacier in 2013, 2018 and 2019 Landsat images with the snowline shown by purple dots.

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

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

2001 Landsat Image

2013 Landsat Image

2009 Google Earth Image

Irik Glacier Retreat, Mount Elbrus, Russia

On January 1, 2012 By mspeltoIn Glacier Observations

Irik Glacier flows down the southeast flank of Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in the Caucasus Mountains of Russia, red arrow on map points to current terminus of Irik Glacier, top image. The map terminus extended 1 kilometer further down the mountain. The glacier currently begins at 5000 m and descends to 2800 m, bottom image orange arrows indicate main accumulation areas, this compares to a terminus elevation of 2600 meters on the map.A decrease of area of glaciers of the Central Caucasus by 16% in the last 40 years is reported, on Elbrus the loss has been 8 % Russian Academy of Sciences National Geophysical Committee (2011). August 1998 (Top) and 2010 image (bottom) indicate the snowline on Irik Glacier, orange arrows and the glacier terminus blue arrows. The fraction of the glacier that is snowcovered is the accumulation area ratio (AAR), typically a glacier needs an AAR of 0.5-0.65 at the end of the melt season in September to be in equilibrium. For the nearby Djankuat Glacier, where annual mass balance data is reported to the World Glacier Monitoring Service, the AAR value for equilibrium is reported as 0.55. For Irik Glacier in 1998 and 2010 the AAR is 32 and 28 respectively and this is still with several weeks of melting. By the end of the melt season both would be below 0.3. The result of consistent negative balances is glacier retreat. For Irik Glacier the retreat from 1998 (top) to 2010 (bottom) is 600-700 meters, note blue arrows indicating terminus location and red arrow indicating a small rise on the southwest side of the glacier that the glacier used to wrap around, but no longer does. In a Google Earth image from 2009 the lower of the glacier is narrow and uncrevassed, this is a section that is quickly melting away. The orange arrows point out the lateral moraines from the Little Ice Age, the blue arrow the 1998 terminus and the red arrow the terminus in 2010. Irik Glacier must retreat to attempt to reestablish equilibrium with climate warming that has reduced the accumulation area. At present the lower 300 meters of the glacier is not crevassed and will melt away. Above that point the glacier is crevassed and vigorous in its flow.