Glacier changes in the central and northern Tien Shan during the last 140 years based on surface and remote-sensing data

Aizen, Vladimir; Kuzmichenok, Valeriy A.; Surazakov, A. B.; Aizen, Elena M.

doi:10.3189/172756406781812465

Cited by 144 publications

(133 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…During this time, the length change measurements were performed by GPS and by analysis of satellite images. The recent observations of the glacier tongue could be connected to earlier measurements by Aizen et al (2006Aizen et al ( , 2007 (Fig. 7).…”

Section: Golubin Glacier Kyrgyzstanmentioning

confidence: 81%

Re-establishing glacier monitoring in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, Central Asia

Hoelzle

Azisov

Barandun

et al. 2017

Geosci. Instrum. Method. Data Syst.

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Abstract. Glacier mass loss is among the clearest indicators of atmospheric warming. The observation of these changes is one of the major objectives of the international climate monitoring strategy developed by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS). Long-term glacier mass balance measurements are furthermore the basis for calibrating and validating models simulating future runoff of glacierised catchments. This is essential for Central Asia, which is one of the driest continental regions of the Northern Hemisphere. In the highly populated regions, water shortage due to decreased glacierisation potentially leads to pronounced political instability, drastic ecological changes and endangered food security. As a consequence of the collapse of the former Soviet Union, however, many valuable glacier monitoring sites in the Tien Shan and Pamir Mountains were abandoned. In recent years, multinational actors have re-established a set of important in situ measuring sites to continue the invaluable long-term data series. This paper introduces the applied monitoring strategy for selected glaciers in the Kyrgyz and Uzbek Tien Shan and Pamir, highlights the existing and the new measurements on these glaciers, and presents an example for how the old and new data can be combined to establish multi-decadal mass balance time series. This is crucial for understanding the impact of climate change on glaciers in this region.

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Section: Golubin Glacier Kyrgyzstanmentioning

confidence: 81%

Re-establishing glacier monitoring in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, Central Asia

Hoelzle

Azisov

Barandun

et al. 2017

Geosci. Instrum. Method. Data Syst.

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“…Glacier volume assessments from satellite surveys confirm a trend toward mass loss over the recent decades for the Central and Inner Tien-Shan (e.g. Aizen et al, 2006;Pieczonka et al, 2013;Gardner et al, 2013;Wu et al, 2014;Pieczonka and Bolch, 2015;Farinotti et al, 2015;Petrakov et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Mass balance observations and reconstruction for Batysh Sook Glacier, Tien Shan, from 2004 to 2016

Kenzhebaev

Barandun

Kronenberg

et al. 2017

Cold Regions Science and Technology

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“…A lower recession rate of 0.1% per year was found in the AksuRiver Basin in the Chinese part of the Central Tien Shan (1963( -2000( , Liu et al 2006. Similarly, glaciers of the Akshiirak Range retreated by only 0.12% per year in an earlier period (1943( -1977( , Kuzmichenok 1989, while an acceleration of area loss was found during 1977-2003(Aizen et al 2006. Increasing rates of area loss were also found in other parts of the Tien Shan (e.g.…”

Section: Glacier Changesmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…This is in line with earlier studies which show that the highest glacier shrinkage occurred in the outer ranges of Tien Shan Mountains, or in peripheral, lower-elevation ranges near the densely populated forelands, while significantly smaller rates are reported for glaciers of inner ranges (Narama et al 2010, Sorg et al 2012. Typical published values for the outer ranges are loss rates of ∼0.6-0.7% per year in Northern and Western Tien Shan during 2000-2007(Narama et al 2010, ∼0.35% per year for Inner Tien Shan (Terskey Alatau, 1990-2003, Kutuzov and Shahgedanova 2009Akshiirak, 1977-2003, Aizen et al 2006) and 0.30-0.35% per year in Eastern Tien Shan (1963-2000, Liu et al 2006. A lower recession rate of 0.1% per year was found in the AksuRiver Basin in the Chinese part of the Central Tien Shan (1963( -2000( , Liu et al 2006.…”

Section: Glacier Changesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The observed general trend of glacier retreat in the Tien Shan is most likely a consequence of the observed general warming (Aizen et al 2006, Bolch 2007, Narama et al 2010. However, the air temperature during melting season (July-August) has increased only slightly over past decades, though a prolongation of the melting season has been detected for September throughout Central Asia.…”

Section: Climatic Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Glacier characteristics and changes in the Sary-Jaz River Basin (Central Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstan) – 1990–2010

Osmonov

Bolch

Chen

et al. 2013

Remote Sensing Letters

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The water discharge from the heavily glacierized Sary-Jaz River Basin (Eastern Kyrgyzstan) is of high importance for the very arid Tarim Basin located in Xinjiang (north-western China). We investigated glacier changes in the entire Sary-Jaz River Basin, which covers a large part of the Central Tien Shan, for the period from 1990 to 2010 based on Landsat 'TM'/'ETM+'data. We found 1310 glaciers (>0.1 km²), which covered 2055 ± 41.1 km² ( 18% of the entire basin) in 1990. The glaciers shrank by 77.1 ± 57.1 km² (3.7 ± 2.7%) until 2010. This is considerably lower than in most other ranges of the Tien Shan. The lowest insignificant area loss (−1.5 ± 2.7%) was found in the eastern part of the basin where the largest glaciers and highest peaks are situated. Debris-covered glaciers shrank significantly less than clean-ice glaciers of comparable size. We also identified a few advancing glaciers which show surge characteristics. Climate data from the Tien Shan weather station (3614 m asl.) close to the study region showed no significant long-term trend. Remote Sensing Letters, 2013 Vol. 4, No. 8, 725-734, http The water discharge from the heavily glacierized Sary-Jaz River Basin (Eastern Kyrgyzstan) is of high importance for the very arid Tarim Basin located in Xinjiang (north-western China). We investigated glacier changes in the entire Sary-Jaz River Basin, which covers a large part of the Central Tien Shan, for the period from 1990 to 2010 based on Landsat 'TM'/'ETM+'data. We found 1310 glaciers (>0.1 km 2 ), which covered 2055 ± 41.1 km 2 (∼18% of the entire basin) in 1990. The glaciers shrank by 77.1 ± 57.1 km 2 (3.7 ± 2.7%) until 2010. This is considerably lower than in most other ranges of the Tien Shan. The lowest insignificant area loss (−1.5 ± 2.7%) was found in the eastern part of the basin where the largest glaciers and highest peaks are situated. Debris-covered glaciers shrank significantly less than clean-ice glaciers of comparable size. We also identified a few advancing glaciers which show surge characteristics. Climate data from the Tien Shan weather station (3614 m asl.) close to the study region showed no significant long-term trend.

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Glacier changes in the central and northern Tien Shan during the last 140 years based on surface and remote-sensing data

Cited by 144 publications

References 12 publications

Re-establishing glacier monitoring in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, Central Asia

Re-establishing glacier monitoring in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, Central Asia

Mass balance observations and reconstruction for Batysh Sook Glacier, Tien Shan, from 2004 to 2016

Glacier characteristics and changes in the Sary-Jaz River Basin (Central Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstan) – 1990–2010

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