Glaciation of northern slopes of Turkestan and Alai Ranges and its present-day dynamics

Abstract

Special features of development and existence of present-day glaciation of the Turkistan and Alay ridges are being examined in current climate change. It is found that the main climate elements – air temperature and atmospheric precipitations tend to rise in the highland zones of these ridges. Though, an air temperature rose more intensively than in Inner Tien-Shan, and glacier degradation rates are more intensive here. For 33–43 years, the glaciers of five river basins reduced in its area extent for more than 20%. An increase of a number of glaciers is characteristically under classification of more large ones. Small glaciers sited rather in low hypsometrical levels, are quite disappeared