Modern glaciers of mountain range Tsambagarav (Mongolian Altai)

In this paper, the author researches the glaciated mountain range Tsambagarav, ranges Sutai and Munhhairhan ,one of the greatest centres of modern glaciation of the Mongolian Altai. In this study of the glaciated mountain range Tsambagarav, ranges Sutai and Munhhairhan, the author takes into consideration certain interpretations of the multichannel satellite imagery "Landsat-7" (August, years 2002, 2008).The author studies the topographical maps at a scale of 1:100000 of the glaciers of mountain ranges Tsambagarav and Sutai, Munhhairhan of 1945 and 1975. Image processing and thematic interpretation of these images has been performed using computer programs MICRODEM/Terra Base-II and the decoding of the glaciers has been carried out using a digital terrain model according to the SRTM. Analysis of remote sensing mountain glaciers monitoring site Tsambagarav, mountain ranges Munhhairhan and Sutai provides an electronic data bank of glaciers. The created data bank consists of a cartographic database, thematic databases in the format DBASE, attribute tables of digital layers, directories and classifiers. The thematic interpretation of these images by using computer programs GOOGLE EARTH, MICRODEM/Terra Base-II is able to provide acceptable accuracy of estimates of the size and morphology of glaciers. As a result of remote sensing monitoring we have defined the area, volume, length, thickness, height of glaciers and their morphological types, as well as the exposition of glaciers. This article gives a general description of the glacial regions under consideration, including characteristics of the distribution of glaciers in the territory, their size, morphology and distribution of exposures. In addition, the study of the structure of complex glaciers is of independent interest. The study results establish additional indicators that can be used to describe the glacial regions. We see problems for further studies of the Mongolian Altai glaciers in the following: 1) since the hydro-meteorological network in the Mongolian Altai is extremely rare and completely ignores the highlands region, it is very important to organize more permanent meteorological stations and posts in the highland zone; 2) given the uniqueness of regime of East Pamir glaciers, the next stage of glaciological work is required - a year-round permanent glacier study area; 3) make greater use of satellite imagery to describe the evolution of the regime and the freezing of the Mongolian Altai.

Keywords

Authors

References