Summary of work on the Kara-Batkak Glacier in 2014 Rysbek Satylkanov CHARIS-KG project manager Institute of Water Problems and Hydropower Under the National.

Summary of work on

the Kara -BatkakGlacier in 2014

Rysbek SatylkanovCHARIS-KG project manager

Institute of Water Problems and HydropowerUnder the National Academy of Science

CHARIS meeting, Dehradun, IndiaOctober 12-16, 2014

Geographic coverage of the Tian-Shan and Pamir-Alai in Kyrgyzstan

CHARIS meeting, Dehradun, India October 12-16, 2014

Research We plan to conduct research studies on climate change at 3

different elevation points (at Tian-Shan HMSC, located in the Chon-Kyzyl-Suu valley):

The first point is the coast of Issyk-Kul Lake – 1610 m asl;

The second point - Meteorological station TSHMSC, altitude 2550 m asl;

The third point – Kara-Batkak Glacier – height 3400 m asl.

Hydro-meteorological network in the basin of river Chon-Kyzyl-Suu

Surface snow survey 1956-1997, 2008-2014Snow depth, density, and water reserves stored

in the snowGlaciology 1957-1997, 2008-2014

Determination of the height, density, and water storage in the snow

Amount of melted snow, iceDetermining the position of the snow lineSolar radiation and surface albedoExperiments with artificial enhancement of melting

Meteorology 1954-2014Temperature, humidity, precipitation, cloud

cover, windHydrological 1954-1990, 2013-2014

Water levels, costs and temperature

CHARIS meeting, Dehradun, India October 12-16, 2014

In 2014 the framework of CHARIS the following field observations were carried out on Kara-Batkak:

I) Monthly observations of snow accumulation in the ablation zone of the glacier at an altitude of 3300-3500 m during cold season (October – June)

CHARIS meeting, Dehradun, India October 12-16, 2014

II) Weekly observations over ice ablation during warm season (June-September) on the glacier tongue at an altitude of 3300-3500 m

CHARIS meeting, Dehradun, India October 12-16, 2014

III) Weekly observations of ice ablation at buried part of the glacier (at altitudes of 3300-3500 m)

CHARIS meeting, Dehradun, India October 12-16, 2014

IV) GPS-survey of the front line of the glacier tongue (at the end of ablation season)

CHARIS meeting, Dehradun, India October 12-16, 2014

V) Daily observations over the level and flow of water at hydrological station Kashka-Tor – at the river source

CHARIS meeting, Dehradun, India October 12-16, 2014

VI) Meteorological observations on the glacier tongue. Recording of weekly temperature and humidity at 3350m, of bi-annual t and humidity at 3300 m and 3500 m, and daily recording of precipitation at 3300 m.

CHARIS meeting, Dehradun, India October 12-16, 2014

VII) Measurement of thickness and density of the snow cover during the period of maximum accumulation in the area of glacier accumulation and ablation at an altitude of 4100 to 3650 m (beginning of June)

CHARIS meeting, Dehradun, India October 12-16, 2014

VIII) Daily observations over snow and ice ablation. Over snow ablation – at one point at 3500 m (June); over ice ablation- at 2 points with a gradient of heights of 100 m (at 3400 and 3500 m) full month of July

CHARIS meeting, Dehradun, India October 12-16, 2014

IX) Calculation of the glacier mass balance in accordance with monitoring data of 2013-2014 for the World Glacier Monitoring Centre (Zurich)

Kyrgyz-Chinese scientific conference "Impact of climate change to the mountain

ecosystems of the Tian-Shan" (11-15 August , 2014, Kyzyl-Suu, Issyk-Kul)

The CHARIS-KG team was also part of the special working group on glaciers monitoring and hydrometeorological observations of Arabel and Uchkol river basins at concessionary area of CJSC “Kumtor Gold Company” (KGC).

Monitoring purpose.To assess the current state of glaciers, identification the dynamics of change (speed, linear retreat and depression of surfaces of observed glaciers) in the zones of anthropogenic influence of KGC, and at glaciers, presumably not subject to anthropogenic impact of KGC during monitoring period of 2014-2018.

CHARIS meeting, Dehradun, India October 12-16, 2014

THANK YOU!r.satylkanov@gmail.com

CHARIS meeting, Dehradun, India October 12-16, 2014