Current State of the Glaciers in the Tsambagarav Ridge (Mongolian Altai)


https://doi.org/10.7868/S2412376526010059

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Abstract

Assessment of scales and spatial distribution of the present-day glaciation of the Tsambagarav Ridge (Mongolia) as well as dynamics of glaciers over the last few decades was performed. The work was based on the field studies of 2016–2024 and the analysis of satellite images of different years. In 2023, glaciation of the Tsambagarav Ridge consisted of 73 glaciers with a total area of 61.08 km2, the average weighted altitude of the firn line was 3733 m, the vertical range of glaciation was 1224 m. 98.5% of the glacier area was concentrated in 8 glacier complexes, with the flat-top glaciers as their core. 89% of the glacier surfaces were completely free of moraine material. Glaciers of the northern aspect predominated. Acceleration of retreat of the most glaciers since 2015 has been found. The rates of ice movement on the tongue of the Eregtiin glacier in 2024 increased by 3–9 times relative to 2005–2006. The area of glaciation reduced by 7.02 km2 (10%) from 2015 to 2023, and by 4.13 km2 (6.3%) from 2020 to 2023. The acceleration of the glacier retreating was accompanied by rising of the mean summer temperature by 1.7 °C between 1991 and 2024 as compared to the period from 1961 to 1990.

About the Authors

D. A. Ganyushkin
St. Petersburg State University
Russian Federation
St. Petersburg


D. V. Bantcev
St. Petersburg State University
Russian Federation
St. Petersburg


S. A. Griga
St. Petersburg State University
Russian Federation
St. Petersburg


E. S. Derkach
St. Petersburg State University
Russian Federation
St. Petersburg


O. V. Ostanin
ltai State University
Russian Federation
Barnaul


Yu. A. Gorbunova
St. Petersburg State University
Russian Federation
St. Petersburg


V. S. Rasputina
St. Petersburg State University
Russian Federation
St. Petersburg


I. V. Volkov
St. Petersburg State University
Russian Federation
St. Petersburg


Yu. N. Kurochkin
St. Petersburg State University
Russian Federation
St. Petersburg


A. S. Alekseykova
St. Petersburg State University
Russian Federation
St. Petersburg


D. Otgonbayar
Western Regional Branch of National University of Mongolia
Mongolia


S. Khadbaatar
Department of Geography, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Mongolian National University of Education
Mongolia


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Supplementary files

For citation: Ganyushkin D.A., Bantcev D.V., Griga S.A., Derkach E.S., Ostanin O.V., Gorbunova Y.A., Rasputina V.S., Volkov I.V., Kurochkin Y.N., Alekseykova A.S., Otgonbayar D., Khadbaatar S. Current State of the Glaciers in the Tsambagarav Ridge (Mongolian Altai). Ice and Snow. 2026;66(1):59-80. https://doi.org/10.7868/S2412376526010059

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