Abstract
Abstract. Precipitation in high-mountain regions is characterized by a strong heterogeneity due to complex interaction between atmospheric circulation and steep topography, however, extremely rare network of high elevation stations hampers the adequate high resolution regional climate modeling. In this study we present new data of precipitation directly measured in high-mountain catchment, on the continental glacier (East Sayan Range, south of East Siberia) during the summer periods of 2015–2017 using automatic weather station. The precipitation record was compared with near located weather stations and ERA Interim and NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data. Precipitation mode similar to the glacier site was found at the stations located west and northwest, while ERA Interim and NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data underestimated the precipitation by 40 % and 70 %, respectively. Atmospheric circulation patterns in days with precipitation were analyzed by using mean sea level pressure, geopotential height at 700 and 500 hPa and classification of macro scale atmospheric processes of the Northern Hemisphere by Dzerdzeevskii. Summer precipitation was mostly associated with meridional southern group of large scale circulation the Northern Hemisphere, while at synoptic scale it basically fell in cyclonic (49 % of precipitation) and low-gradient cyclonic (30 %) baric fields. Six typical atmospheric circulation patterns over the East Sayan were identified for days with precipitation. The sources and atmospheric moisture transfer to the glacier was defined by using the HYSPLIT trajectory model. The most of summer precipitation (70 %) was related with western cyclones, while about 25 % of rainfalls (mainly of moderate to strong intensity) was originated from the south-east (Pacific monsoon influence).
Highlights
Precipitation, both in solid and liquid form, is an important component of mass balance in high-mountain glaciarized basins
It was found that summer balance of the glaciers of south-east Siberia is largely associated with atmospheric circulation processes of different scales (Osipova and Osipov, 2018)
We focused on the analysis of the precipitation record from the East Sayan glacier basin and its correlation with regional weather stations, reanalysis data and multiscale atmospheric circulation processes which determine the transportation and precipitation of moisture on the glacier
Summary
Precipitation, both in solid and liquid form, is an important component of mass balance in high-mountain glaciarized basins It affects the formation of snow cover, accumulation, ablation, and energy balance (e.g. albedo in case of summer snowfalls) of glaciers. It was found that summer balance of the glaciers of south-east Siberia is largely associated with atmospheric circulation processes of different scales (Osipova and Osipov, 2018). We focused on the analysis of the precipitation record from the East Sayan glacier basin and its correlation with regional weather stations, reanalysis data and multiscale atmospheric circulation processes which determine the transportation and precipitation of moisture on the glacier
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