First geophysical and shallow ice core investigation of the Kazbek plateau glacier, Caucasus Mountains

Kutuzov, Stanislav; Mikhalenko, Vladimir; Grachev, Alexi M.; Ginot, Patrick; Lavrentiev, Ivan; Kozachek, Anna; Krupskaya, V. V.; Ekaykin, Alexey; Tielidze, Levan; Toropov, P. A.

doi:10.1007/s12665-016-6295-9

Cited by 11 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…The mean annual temperatures at the southern slopes are usually 1-2 °C higher than those in the north (Tielidze and Wheate, 2018). At the mean elevation of glaciers (around 3400 m a.s..l) they are around −5.0 °C (Kutuzov et al, 2016;Tielidze, 2016). The average regional lapse rate has a maximum in summer (−5.2 °C per km) and a minimum in winter (−2.3 °C per km) (Kozachek et al, 2017).…”

Section: Study Area 21 General Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Strong acceleration of glacier area loss in the Greater Caucasus over the past two decades

Tielidze

Nosenko

Khromova

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Abstract. An updated glacier inventory is important for understanding glacier behavior given the accelerating glacier retreat observed around the world. Here, we present data from new glacier inventory at two time periods (2000, 2020) covering the entire Greater Caucasus (Georgia, Russia, and Azerbaijan). Satellite imagery (Landsat, Sentinel, SPOT) was used to conduct a remote-sensing survey of glacier change. The 30 m resolution Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer Global Digital Elevation Model (ASTER GDEM; 17 November 2011) was used to determine aspect, slope and elevations, for all glaciers. Glacier margins were mapped manually and reveal that in 2000 the mountain range contained 2186 glaciers with a total glacier surface area of 1381.5 ± 58.2 km2. By 2020, glacier surface area had decreased to 1060.9 ± 33.6 km2. Of the 2223 glaciers, fourteen have an area > 10 km2 resulting the 221.9 km2 or 20.9 % of total glacier area in 2020. The Bezingi Glacier with an area of 39.4 ± 0.9 km2 was the largest glacier mapped in 2020 database. Our result represents a 23.2 ± 3.8 % (320.6 ± 45.9 km2) or −1.16 % yr−1 reduction in total glacier surface area over the last twenty years in the Greater Caucasus. Glaciers between 1.0 km2 and 5.0 km2 account for 478.1 km2 or 34.6 % in total area in 2000, while it account for 354.0 km2 or 33.4 % in total area in 2020. The rates of area shrinkage and mean elevation vary between the northern and southern and between the western, central, and eastern Greater Caucasus. Area shrinkage is significantly stronger in the eastern Greater Caucasus (−1.82 % yr−1), where most glaciers are very small. The observed increased summer temperatures and decreased winter precipitation along with increased Saharan dust deposition might be responsible for the predominantly negative mass balances of two glaciers with long-term measurements. Both glacier inventories are available from the Global Land Ice Measurements from Space (GLIMS) database and can be used for future studies.

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Section: Study Area 21 General Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Strong acceleration of glacier area loss in the Greater Caucasus over the past two decades

Tielidze

Nosenko

Khromova

et al. 2021

Preprint

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“…The regular succession of dry dusty periods and wet periods can be associated with the seasonal onset and decay of the Bolivian high, a high pressure system which is well developed and centered over Bolivia (Lenters and Cook, 1997). When the Bolivian high is particularly strong and displaced southward of its climatological position, easterly flow in the high troposphere is enhanced, as well as moisture advection from the interior of the continent to the Altiplano.…”

Section: Seasonal Variability In Proxies and Firn Core Chronologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Giant dust particles at Nevado Illimani: a proxy of summertime deep convection over the Bolivian Altiplano

et al. 2021

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Abstract. A deeper understanding of past atmospheric circulation variability in the Central Andes is a high-priority topic in paleoclimatology mainly because of the necessity to validate climate models used to predict future precipitation trends and to develop mitigation and/or adaptation strategies for future climate change scenarios in this region. Within this context, we here investigate an 18-year firn core drilled at Nevado Illimani in order to interpret its mineral dust record in relation to seasonal processes, in particular atmospheric circulation and deep convection. The core was dated by annual layer counting based on seasonal oscillations of dust, calcium, and stable isotopes. Geochemical and mineralogical data show that dust is regionally sourced in winter and summer. During austral summer (wet season), an increase in the relative proportion of giant dust particles (∅>20 µm) is observed, in association with oscillations of stable isotope records (δD, δ18O). It seems that at Nevado Illimani both the deposition of dust and the isotopic signature of precipitation are influenced by atmospheric deep convection, which is also related to the total amount of precipitation in the area. This hypothesis is corroborated by regional meteorological data. The interpretation of giant particle and stable isotope records suggests that downdrafts due to convective activity promote turbulent conditions capable of suspending giant particles in the vicinity of Nevado Illimani. Giant particles and stable isotopes, when considered together, can be therefore used as a new proxy for obtaining information about deep convective activity in the past.

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“…Transportation of dust to the South Caucasus in general and Georgia in particular is associated with the low-and mid-tropospheric flows from the Mediterranean and Black Seas in the west, from the Caspian -Central Asia regions in the east and warm advection from the Middle East in the south [10]. The interactions between atmospheric dust, weather patterns and climate in the Caucasus region and Georgia in particular were studied in [5][6][7][8][9]13]. At present, computer simulations are actively used to study these interactions over the territory of Georgia [14].…”

Section: Meteorological Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Elbrus [5][6][7][8] and only once for the Mt. Kazbeg on the territory of Georgia [9]. A chronology of dust deposition events on the Mt.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modelling transportation of desert dust to the South Caucasus using WRF Chem model

Davitashvili

2019

E3S Web Conf.

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The problem of the ongoing climate change resulting from natural and growing anthropogenic factors acquires a particular importance for the territory of the Caucasus. Dust aerosol represent one of the main pollutants on the territory of Georgia and impact on regional climate. In this study, the WRF Chemistry model with dust module is used to study transportation of dust to the territory of the South Caucasus from the Sahara and Sahel in Africa, Arabian and ar-Rub’ al-Khali deserts located in the Middle East, Kyzylkum, Karakum in the Central Asia. The results of calculations have shown the WRF model was able to simulate dust aerosols transportation to the Caucasus reliably in conditions of the complex topography and that dust aerosol is an important factor in the climate system of the South Caucasus.

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First geophysical and shallow ice core investigation of the Kazbek plateau glacier, Caucasus Mountains

Cited by 11 publications

References 41 publications

Strong acceleration of glacier area loss in the Greater Caucasus over the past two decades

Strong acceleration of glacier area loss in the Greater Caucasus over the past two decades

Giant dust particles at Nevado Illimani: a proxy of summertime deep convection over the Bolivian Altiplano

Modelling transportation of desert dust to the South Caucasus using WRF Chem model

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