Glacier Dynamics in the Kuznetsky Alatau and other regions of Central Siberia under climate change

M. D. Ananicheva; A. A. Abramov; M. M. Adamenko; I. A. Korneva

doi:10.7868/S2412376525040028

Glacier Dynamics in the Kuznetsky Alatau and other regions of Central Siberia under climate change

M. D. Ananicheva, A. A. Abramov, M. M. Adamenko, I. A. Korneva

https://doi.org/10.7868/S2412376525040028

Full Text:

Abstract

The mountain ranges surrounding the Central Siberian Plateau host predominantly small-scale glaciation, including minor glaciers and snow-ice formations (SIFs). This study presents updated glacial extent mapping using Sentinel‑2 imagery for three regions: the Kuznetsky Alatau (current focus), Baikal Ranges (Baikalsky, Barguzin, and Verkhneangarsky ridges), and Byrranga Mountains (Taimyr). Since the 1960s (Byrranga/Baikal) and 1980s (Kuznetsky Alatau), these regions have experienced 50–75% ice loss, strongly correlated with climatic shifts. In the Kuznetsky Alatau (glaciers located at 1.200–1.500 m asl), August 2021/23 Sentinel‑2 imagery revealed 78 glaciers (53 previously cataloged in the USSR Glacier Inventory) and 57 SIFs. Slope-attached glaciers showed the most pronounced retreat, followed by cirque types. Satellite-derived parameters were field-verified during August 2024 expeditions. Key characteristics of Kuznetsky Alatau’s cryospheric features include: minimal dimensions, low median elevation, and high meteorological sensitivity (winter precipitation, summer temperatures, wind regimes). Interannual variability reveals both negative mass balance (warming/reduced snowfall) and episodic gains (wind-driven snow redistribution, avalanche deposition, or cooler summers). Using archived Corona (1960) and Hexagon (1973) images, we evaluated discrepancies between the USSR Glacier Inventory (1970s) and satellite-derived glacier areas/altitudes for two glacial clusters in Kuznetsky Alatau. Glacier-climate relationships were quantified using ERA5-Land reanalysis data (temperature/precipitation trends), with comparative analysis against Byrranga and Baikal regions.

Keywords

Kuznetsky Alatau, Central Siberia, glacier, glacier area, satellite image, climate change, temperature, precipitation, ERA5-Land,

About the Authors

M. D. Ananicheva

Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Moscow

A. A. Abramov

Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Moscow

M. M. Adamenko

Siberian Industrial University
Russian Federation
Novokuznetsk

I. A. Korneva

Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Institute of Natural and Technical Systems
Russian Federation
Moscow; Sevastopol

References

1. Adamenko M.M., Gutak Ya.M. (а) A New Approach to Differentiating Small Glaciers and Perennial Snowpatches Based on the Duration of Continuous Existence of Glacio-Nival Objects (Case Study of the Kuznetsky Alatau Mountains). Geosfernye Issledovaniya. Geospheric Research. 2017, 3: 33–40. [In Russian].

2. Adamenko M.M., Gutak Ya.M., Antonova V.A. (б) Climate Change and Glacier Size Variations in the Kuznetsky Alatau Mountains from 1975 to 2015. Led i Sneg. Ice and Snow. 2017, 57 (3): 334–342. [In Russian].

3. Adamenko M.M., Gutak Ya.M., Tren’kov I.P. Changes in Intra-Annual Precipitation Distribution and Snow Cover Dynamics in the Kuznetsky Alatau Mountains. Geosfernye Issledovaniya. Geospheric Research. 2021, 2: 101–109. [In Russian].

4. Ananicheva M.D., Korneva I.A. Small Forms of Glaciation and Climatic Features of Taimyr: New Estimates. Led i Sneg. Ice and Snow. 2024, 64 (3): 345–357 [In Russian].

5. Ananicheva M.D., Kononov Yu.M. Glacier Changes in the Koryak Highlands from 1972 to 2019. Geosfernye Issledovaniya. Geosphere Research. 2025, 2: 72–88. https://doi.org/10.17223/25421379/35/6 [In Russian].

6. Katalog lednikov SSSR. Tom 15, Vypusk 2, Chast’ 1. Basseyny rek Tomi i Chulyma (Kuznetskiy Alatau). USSR Glacier Catalog. V. 15, Is. 2, Part 1. Basins of the Tom and Chulym Rivers (Kuznetsky Alatau). Moscow-Leningrad: Hydrometeoizdat, 1980: 43 p. [In Russian].

7. Kovalenko N.V. The current state of the small glaciers of the Kuznetsky Alatau and the Putorana Plateau. Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seriya 5: Geografiya. Moscow University Bulletin. Series 5: Geography. 2008, 3: 67–71. [In Russian].

8. Kovalenko N.V., Popovnin V.V., Gubanov A.S., Polyukhov A.A., Uspenskaya E.I. Small Glaciers of the Putorana Plateau in the Context of Climate Change. Led i Sneg. Ice and Snow. 2023, 63 (3): 332–346. [In Russian].

9. Kolomiytsov A.A., Mardasova E.V., Rudyka R.A., Sheremetov R.T. Expert Assessment of Mass Loss by the Tomich Glacier (West Katun Glacial Center, Altai) from 2010 to 2016. Izvestiya Altayskogo Otdeleniya Russkogo Geograficheskogo Obshchestva. Proceedings of the Altai Branch of the Russian Geographical Society. 2016, 3: 42. [In Russian].

10. Nosenko G.A., Nikitin S.A., Khromova T.E. Glacier Area and Volume Changes in the Altai Mountains (Russia) since the Mid 20th Century Based on Satellite Imagery. Led i Sneg. Ice and Snow. 2014, 2: 5–13. https://doi.org/10.15356/2076-6734-2014-2-5-13 [In Russian].

11. Syubaev A.A., Kovalev E.A. Current State of Glaciation in the Kuznetsky Alatau and Its Dynamics in the Second Half of the 20th Century. Priroda i ekonomika Kuzbassa: Regional’nyy sbornik nauchnykh statey. Nature and Economy of Kuzbass: Regional Collection of Scientific Articles. KuzGP A. 2004, 9 (2): 49. [In Russian].

12. Chistyakov K.V., Ganyushkin D.A., Kurochkin Yu.N. Current State and Dynamics of Glacio-Nival Systems in the Mongun-Taiga and Tavan-Bogdo-Ola Massifs. Led i Sneg. Ice and Snow. 2015, 129 (1): 49–60. [In Russian].

13. Churakov A.N. Kuznetsky Alatau. Ocherki po geologii Sibiri. Essays on the Geology of Siberia. Moscow: USSR Academy of Sciences. 1932: 1–115. [In Russian].

14. Sheremetova S.A., Sheremetov R.T. Key Climatic Parameters of the Winter Season and Features of the Biological Spectrum of Vascular Plant Flora in the Tom River Basin. Sibirskiy Ekologicheskiy Zhurnal. Siberian Journal of Ecology. 2015, 22 (1): 3–12. [In Russian].

15. Shpin’ P.S. Snow Cover and Precipitation Amount in the Southern Part of the Kuznetsky Alatau. Glyatsioklimatologiya Zapadnoy Sibiri. Glacioclimatology of Western Siberia. Leningrad, 1975: 74–88. [In Russian].

16. Shpin’ P.S. Oledenenie Kuznetskogo Alatau. Glaciation of the Kuznetsky Alatau. Moscow: Nauka, 1980: 83 p. [In Russian].

17. Ananicheva M., Adamenko M., Abramov A. Glaciation in the Kuznetsky Alatau Mountains – Dynamics and Current State According to Sentinel 2 Satellite Images and Field Studies. Glacies 2025, 2 (3): 9 p. https://doi.org/10.3390/glacies2030009

18. Khromova T.E., Nosenko G.A., Glazovsky A.F., Muraviev A.Y., Nikitin S.A., Lavrentiev I.I. New Inventory of Russian Glaciers Based on Satellite Data (2016–2019). Water Resources. 2022, 49: 55–68. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0097807822070065

19. Raup B., Khalsa S.J.S. GLIMS data analysis tutorial. 2010: 15.

20. Shahgedanova M., Nosenko G., Khromova T., Muraveyev A. Glacier shrinkage and climatic change in the Russian Altai from the mid 20th century: An assessment using remote sensing and PRECIS regional climate model. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres. 2010, 115 (D16): D16107 p. https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JD012976

21. OpenTopography Retrieved from: URL: https://portal.opentopography.org/raster?opentopoID=OTSDEM.032021.4326.3 (Last access: June 19, 2025).

Supplementary files

For citation: Ananicheva M.D., Abramov A.A., Adamenko M.M., Korneva I.A. Glacier Dynamics in the Kuznetsky Alatau and other regions of Central Siberia under climate change. Ice and Snow. 2025;65(4):540-556. https://doi.org/10.7868/S2412376525040028

Refbacks

There are currently no refbacks.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

ISSN 2076-6734 (Print)
ISSN 2412-3765 (Online)

Username
Password