Rock waste dumps on the Davydov Glacier (Akshyirak Range, Tien Shan)

Kuzmichenok, Valeriy A.

doi:10.15356/2076-6734-2012-1-95-104

Cited by 1 publication

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“…The opposite margin has not moved, and therefore, the impact of the initial spoil dumping is to cause an effective narrowing in the valley width. Observations and modeling suggest that this causes squeezing of the ice which can take 1–2 years to respond to a particular load change [ Kuzmichenok , ]. Given that the mass balance of the glacier barely changes in this initial phase of dumping, the natural response of the glacier to flowing through a narrowed channel is to accelerate its flow.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid advance of two mountain glaciers in response to mine‐related debris loading

2015

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Rapid glacier advance is known to occur by a range of mechanisms. However, although large‐scale debris loading has been proposed as a process for causing rapid terminus advance, it has rarely been observed. We use satellite remote sensing data to observe accelerated glacier terminus advance in response to massive supraglacial loading on two glaciers in Kyrgyzstan. Over a 15 year period, mining activity has led to the dumping of spoil of up to 180 m thick on large parts of these valley glaciers. We find that the termini of these glaciers advance by 1.2 and 3.2 km, respectively, at a rate of up to 350 m yr−1. Our analysis suggests that although enhanced basal sliding could be an important process, massive supraglacial loads have also caused enhanced internal ice deformation that would account for most, or all, of the glacier terminus advance. In addition, narrowing of the glacier valley and mining and dumping of ice alter the mass balance and flow regime of the glaciers. Although the scale of supraglacial loading is massive, this full‐scale experiment provides insight into glacier flow acceleration response where small valley glaciers are impacted by very large volumes of landslide debris.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%