Change of glaciers in the Himalayas and Southern Siberia according to Landsat

DOI: 10.35595/2414-9179-2019-2-25-146-160

View or download the article (Rus)

About the Authors

Aleksandr D. Kitov

V.B. Sochava Institute of Geography SB RAS,
Ulan-Batorskay st., 1, 664033, Irkutsk, Russia,
E-mail: kitov@irigs.irk.ru

Viktor M. Pluysnin

V.B. Sochava Institute of Geography SB RAS,
Ulan-Batorskay st., 1, 664033, Irkutsk, Russia,
E-mail: plyusnin@irigs.irk.ru

Irina N. Bilichenko

V.B. Sochava Institute of Geography SB RAS,
Ulan-Batorskay st., 1, 664033, Irkutsk, Russia,
E-mail: bilichenco@irigs.irk.ru

Abstract

We consider the local peculiarities of glaciers. We have researched the glaciers of separate mountain ranges in Asia from middle Taiga of the Pribaikalie to the central part of the Himalayas. The mountains are the most vulnerable and often relict geosystems. Especially high sensitivity to changes of climate have nival-glacial and golets geosystems. Modern glaciers constantly declining in the Southern Siberia and the Himalayas. The open part of the glaciers, which are the most dynamic and sensitive to climate change, especially clearly visible on spatial images. Landsat data provide an indication of the change of glaciers at different latitudes and close time intervals since the early 1970’s. As a result, the analysis of such data, we were able to identify common trends and anomalies (especially in 2014–2015 years, before and after the earthquake in May 2015) demonstrated on all the glaciers. Studied changes of the glaciers of the Kodar Ridge (Azarova glacier, No 20), of the East Sayan (the Peretolchina glacier, No 31 and the Topografov glacier, No 18), of the Himalayas (the Khumbu glacier, No 133 and in the Langtang National Park: Lirung, Jubra, Ghonne glaciers).

The comparative analysis of these glaciers showed that the average rate of change of the area, these glaciers, in the early 1970’s was -0.176 km²/year to the beginning of the 2000’s it slows up -0.123, and up to date -0.047. Although glaciers Ghone, Lirung, especially Peretolchina it increases. We’ve noticed reduced of the glaciers, but also stabilizing of the glaciers in some years during of the past 50 years. The analysis was performed using GIS, databases, glaciers and satellite images Landsat.

Keywords

East Sayan Mountains, the Himalayas, GIS, dynamics of mountain glaciers, space images

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For citation: Kitov A.D., Pluysnin V.M., Bilichenko I.N. Change of glaciers in the Himalayas and Southern Siberia according to Landsat. InterCarto. InterGIS. GI support of sustainable development of territories: Proceedings of the International conference. Moscow: Moscow University Press, 2019. V. 25. Part 2. P. 146–160. DOI: 10.35595/2414-9179-2019-2-25-146-160 (in Russian)